Redescription of Pagurus conformis, the Senior Synonym of P. megalops (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae)

Abstract

Critical examination of specimens referred to Pagurus conformis De Haan, 1849 or P. megalops (Stimpson, 1858) has revealed that the two taxa are conspecific and that the former species has frequently been misidentified. Pagurus conformis, the senior synonym of P. megalops, is redescribed and illustrated in detail and compared with three allied species, P. cavicarpus (Paul'son, 1875), P. carpoforaminatus (Alcock, 1905), and P. spinulentus (Henderson, 1888). The taxonomic identities of species to which the name P. conformis has been incorrectly applied are discussed.