Cancellus from a deep bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
Cancellus heatherae, female holotype, shield length – 4 mm: (A) habitus, dorsal; (B) habitus, right side; (C) habitus, ventral; (D) sixth tergite and telson, dorsal. Image credit: Felder & Lemaitre, doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4890.4.10.
Cancellus is a distinctive genus of hermit crabs in the family Diogenidae, containing over 15 recognized species.
Most members of this genus live in pieces of rock, sponge, coral, or other firm substances, rather than in gastropod shells as is more typical for pagurid hermit crabs.
Named
Cancellus heatherae, the newly-discovered species features several minor anatomical differences from other members of the genus.