A colour variation of Clibanarius virescens (Krauss, 1843) (Decapoda, Anomura) collected from Amami Oshima Island and Okinawa, Japan

Abstract

During our survey on the intertidal hermit crab fauna on Amami Oshima Island and Okinawa Island, southwestern Japan, we collected specimens identified asClibanariusspecies by their morphological features, but that had an unknown coloration for the genus: they have whitish ambulatory legs and a whitish shield. For species identification of these specimens, we observed their coloration and morphology and also performed phylogenetic analyses using the genes mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and nuclear histone H3. The analysis has shown that these specimens are to be identified asClibanarius virescens(Krauss, 1843).