| Abstract |
A new classifi cation is presented based on the results of the recently completed cladistic
analysis of the Pylochelidae. The subfamilies Pylochelinae and Pomatochelinae are retained, the latter with
the genera Pylocheles and Cheiroplatea; however, the subgenera Xylocheles and Bathycheles are elevated
to generic rank together with the nominal subgenus Pylocheles. In addition, one new species, B. phenax,
is described in Bathycheles and B. profundus is shown to be conspecifi c with B. integer. The subfamilies
Parapylochelinae, Cancellochelinae, Trizochelinae, and Mixtopagurinae are reduced to ranks of tribes and
included in the subfamily Trizochelinae. A new genus Forestocheles is proposed in the tribe Trizochelini.
Within the genus Trizocheles, subspecifi c rank for T. spinosus bathamae is deemed unjustifi ed and this taxon
is placed in synonymy with the nominal subspecies T. spinosus spinosus. The correct identity of Trizocheles
balssi is established and the species mistakenly thought to represent that taxon is described as T. hoensonae,
new species. Trizocheles gracilis is found to be conspecifi c with T. boasi and an additional new species, T.
mendanai, is added to the genus. The superfamilial ranks of Cheiroplateoidea, Pomatocheloidea, Pylocheloidea,
and Cancellocheloidea proposed by Watabe (2007) are rejected, as is Birgusoidea. |
