Identification and abundance of hermit crabs (Crustacea: Paguroidea) in the southern of Qeshm Island; first record of Clibanarius virescens (Krauss, 1843) in the Persian Gulf

The present work aims to determine fauna and abundance of hermit crabs in the southern Qeshm Island. For these aims, after preview of coastal zone, eight stations were selected in the intertidal zones of southern Qeshm Island. Sampling in these stations was conducted during the Dec. 2013. Totally, 605 specimens of hermit crabs were studied and calculated. For identification and accurate laboratory analysis, some of these specimens were fixed in 70% ethanol and transported to the laboratory. Base on valid identification keys, eight hermit crab species Clibanarius signatus, Clibanarius virescens, Diogenes avarus, Diogenes planimanus, Dardanus tinctor, Areopaguristes perspicax, Pagurus kulkarnii and Coenobita scaevola from six geneses and three families were identified in the intertidal zones of southern Qeshm Island. Also, Clibanarius virescens (Krauss, 1843), was reported in the Persian Gulf for the first time. All identified species were compared with the metatypical hermit crab samples in the Zoological Museum, University of Tehran and the species were verified. Compare the identified species in this study with the other studies showed that identified species in this study are so the same as the Oman Sea and north coast of Arabian Sea species. In addition, Station five (Mangrove Forest) had the highest rate of abundance of hermit crabs.