Happy New Year to all 1,312 members of Crabs of the World. Thanks for increasing our new total of 1,958 species, 29 more than on November 3. Every two to three months, I highlight some special observations. Quick reminder— Everyone, please add your crab observations to this project, as they are not automatically added. Thank you so much to everyone who adds them. Our project goal is 2,000 species, and we only need 42 more!

First, a focus on some species that are new to iNaturalist:
•A lovely Petrolisthes polymitus (a Porcelain Crab) by @alboertoalcala in Mexico:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/141240116

•A Paguristes bakeri (Left-handed Hermit Crab) by @crabsandshrimps in California (only recently Research Grade, but the observer is an expert):
www.inaturalist.org/observations/80493513

•Also in China, two new Round Crabs by @encyrtid, a Zozymodes cavipes:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/146574651
and a Forestiana scabra:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/146457183

•And an example of great teamwork in Crabs of the World: Five years ago, @naspeer found an unfamiliar crab when visiting Vietnam, and labelled it “True Crabs.” Crab taxonomist @rueangritp knew it was a Eurasian Freshwater Crab, confirmed by expert @ondrej-radosta. A few months ago @quang_khai identified it as an Indochinamon phongnha, a first for iNaturalist. This month @chekiangense_longpotamon confirmed the ID to Research Grade.
www.inaturalist.org/observations/8451287

These two are new and need confirmation to be Research Grade:
•A new Indochinamon jinpingense (Family Potamidae- Eurasian Freshwater Crab) by @ @chekiangense_longpotamon in China:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/146450059

•A Phimochirus randalli (Pagurid Hermit Crab) by @craigjhowe in Belize:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/145665684

And now, some other noteworthy crabs and photos:
•A beautiful close up of a Dardanus megistos (White-spotted Hermit Crab) by @albertkang in The Philippines:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/144036174

•An adorable Expalicus maculatus (Button Crab) by @dama in Hawaii:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/141344679

•Also in Hawaii, a spectacular Aniculus maximus (Hairy Yellow Hermit Crab) by @davidr:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/145647762

•A colorful and rarely found Liopetrolisthes mitra (a Porcelain Crab), one of many interesting crabs by @leslieh and the Biodiversity Ilo team from the Florida Museum of Natural History & the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles in Peru:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/144283331
See all their observations here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-ilo

•Another porcelain crab, the spectacular Aliaporcellana spongicola (Barrel Sponge) by @tantsusoo in Indonesia:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/145627760

•A Matuta planipes (Flower Moon Crab) that looks like a painting by @kjadiver in Australia:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/145471980

•A colorful Pagurid Hermit Crab, Pylopaguropsis keijii, by @adurbano in New Caledonia:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/142210213
and by @rafi1 in Israel (needs confirmation for Research Grade):
www.inaturalist.org/observations/134827151

•A red, blue, and black Parasesarma indiarum by @twan3253 in Malaysia:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/132790160

•Finally one of my favorite crabs, a Parasesarma brevicristatum by @davidgwhite in Australia, was identified and got to Research Grade:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/35593430

And here’s one that needs an ID:
•A silvery white crab by @pincetczy in The Philippines:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/141439460

Please notify me if you see any crabs new to iNaturalist or of interest. I’ll report on them in the next post. Thanks! Wendy @wendy5