On a new commensal species of Aliaporcellana from the western Pacific (Crustacea, Decapoda, Porcellanidae)

Collection: Pensoft Publishers

Keywords: Crustacea · Topics: Crustacean biology and ecology, Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies, Marine and fisheries research

Aliaporcellana spongicola sp. n. from the Philippines and Indonesia is described. The new species has been frequently photographed by divers because of its striking coloration, but has not been described yet. Aliaporcellana spongicola sp. n. is in fact a widespread commensal of barrel sponges of the genus Xestospongia and other sponges. Morphological characters and ecological information of all described species of Aliaporcellana, and of other porcellanids associated with sponges and soft corals, suggest that all members of the genus are commensals, and that similar morphological adaptations to dwelling on these hosts have evolved independently in different evolutionary lines within Porcellanidae.

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