Hermit crab host prevalence by species of Peltogastridae (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala): Hosts vary with locations on the Pacific coast in mainland Japan

Abstract

Of 2282 individuals in 23 hermit crab species collected from four coasts of the southern part of mainland Japan along the Pacific coast, 87 individuals in seven species were infested by six rhizocephalan species. Among the ten combinations between hosts and rhizocephalans, seven combinations were new records. Morphological identification of the rhizocephalan species from different host species and/or sites was consistent with molecular identification using DNA sequences (COI and 16S rRNA genes). Pagurus filholi and P. nigrivittatus were infested by both Peltogaster postica and P. lineata. The host preference of the two rhizocephalan species reciprocally shifted from one species to the other among the four collection sites. Rhizocephalans may choose the host inhabiting the preferred environment for the parasite within the range of their host species. © Copyright 2014 by The Crustacean Society.