Kingdom Animalia Class Malacostraca Family Galatheidae Genus Lauriea Order Decapoda | Subphylum Crustacea Infraorder Anomura Phylum Arthropoda Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Allogalathea elegans, Decapoda, Giant barrel sponge, Galathea, Neopetrolisthes maculatus | ||
Lauriea siagiani
Lauriea siagiani, is a species of squat lobster in the family Galatheidae, genus Lauriea.
Contents
pink squat lobster s mansion lauriea siagiani
Description
Lauriea siagiani is a small squat lobster, up to 7 millimetres (0.28 in) long. It differs from the only other species in the genus, Lauriea gardineri by a number of features, but most obviously by the coloration: L. gardineri is pale brown with darker bands, while L. siagiani is orange or pink with red or purplish markings.
Distribution and ecology
Lauriea siagiani is found around the giant sponge Xestospongia testudinaria, and has been recorded from Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan.
Taxonomy
Lauriea siagiani was described in 1994 by Keiji Baba; the specific epithet commemorates Wilhelm Siagian, who collected the type material. The species had been previously illustrated by the photographer Roger Steene (as "Galathea sp."), from which Baba recognised that it must represent a new species.