Pagurus traversi

Taxonomy and identification Material examined. New Zealand. Wairepo Flats, Kaikoura, 42.42° S, 173.72° E, NMV J39509 (female, sl. 1.0 mm). Australia, Victoria. Walkerville North, Waratah Bay, 38.84° S, 146.00° E, NMV J76662 (female, sl. 2.9 mm); Bastion Point, Mallacoota, 37.57° S, 149.76° E, NMV J75729 (male, sl. 4.3 mm; ovigerous female, sl. 3.6 mm). Remarks on identification. The colour of Pagurus traversi has been described as “eyestalks green-blue with lighter markings; antennules reddish-orange; antennae dark red with narrow white bars; chelipeds and walking legs dark blue-green ground colour with small pale blue spots and pale blue patches in [carpal-meral] joint regions” (Schembri and McLay, 1983; de Saint Laurent and McLaughlin, 2000: pl. 6 fig. 1). Examination of photographs on iNaturalist of P. traversi from New Zealand show the coloration to be quite variable. A more detailed description of the live colour is provided here based on the Australian specimens: eyestalks dark green or brown with longitudinal white dashes and stripes; basal antennular articles greenish, third basal article and flagellum bright orange; antennal peduncle dark red, bearing tiny blue/white spots; antennal flagellum dark red with narrow white bars; chelipeds and ambulatory legs vary from blue-green to dark brown, with lines of pale blue spots (particularly on the merus); distal articles of walking legs often striped with broad green, white and dark red bands, a thicker band of white on distal carpal margin, with narrow dark red lines inside each leg; third maxillipeds dark red with small blue spots; carapace with pale blue/white spots. This is consistent with the colour reported from New Zealand (fig. 2). The morphology of P. traversi is well described (de Saint Laurent and McLaughlin, 2000: 190, 206–209, fig. 66, pl. 6 fig. 1). Diagnostic features from their key to New Zealand species of Pagurus and the description are: ocular peduncles moderately long and slender, 0.50–0.65 length of shield. Ocular acicles with 2–5 terminal spines. Right cheliped dorsal surface with 4–6 regular or irregular rows of acute tubercles; carpus not strongly produced ventrally to form distinct triangular lobe. Dactyli of walking legs shorter than propodi, each without longitudinal sulcus on mesial and lateral face. Pereopods 3 without dense dorsal and ventral fringe of long plumose setae. This is consistent with the Australian specimens (fig. 3).