A new species of the hermit crab genus Areopaguristes Rahayu & McLaughlin, 2010 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) discovered in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef of Belize, Caribbean Sea

Researchers have identified and described a new species of hermit crab, Areopaguristes tudgei, from the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, part of the UNESCO-listed Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This discovery, published in Zootaxa, represents the 24th species in its genus and the fourth known from the western Atlantic. The species was found in dense populations living intertidally under coral boulders covered with calcareous algae on Carrie Bow Cay. Unlike previously thought, the distinctive setal arrangement shared with the Paguristes tortugae complex is likely due to evolutionary convergence rather than a defining characteristic. The study provides detailed descriptions, illustrations, and an identification key for western Atlantic species of Paguristes sensu lato, contributing significantly to our understanding of hermit crab biodiversity in this critical marine ecosystem.

LEMAITRE, R., & FELDER, D. L. (2012). A new species of the hermit crab genus Areopaguristes Rahayu &; McLaughlin, 2010 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) discovered in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef of Belize, Caribbean Sea. Zootaxa, 3480(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3480.1.3