On two new genera of pea crabs parasitic in holothurians (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) from the Indo- West Pacific, with notes on allied genera

Abstract

Two new genera of pea crabs of the family Pinnotheridae, Holotheres and Buergeres, members of which are parasites of sea cucumbers, are described from the Indo-West Pacific. Species of Holotheres are characterized by having all the dactyli of the walking legs of females short and subequal in length, with the spatuliform dactylus of the third maxilliped inserted very near or at the base of the propodus. Species of Buergeres are characterized by having the last dactyli of the walking legs of females elongate and longer than those of the other legs, with the subspatuliform dactylus of the third maxilliped inserted distinctly before the base of the propodus. Holotheres and Buergeres are compared to other genera whose members are associated with holothurians, Holothuriophilus Nauck, 1880, and Alain Manning, 1998 (obligate parasites); as well as Pinnaxodes Heller, 1865 (facultative parasites).