Dardanus setifer (H. Milne Edwards, 1836)

Pagurus setifer H. Milne Edwards, 1836: 274 (Australia, type locality); Fize & Serène, 1955: 182–189, Fig. 27 A & B, Fig. 28, pl. 5 nos. 4–8.

Dardanus setifer – Haig & Ball, 1988: 167; Cassidy, 2005: 117–121, Figs. 17–19; McLaughlin et al., 2007: 100–101, 1 unlabelled figure; McLaughlin, 2008: 276–277, Fig. 1b.

Material examined. 1 female SL 8.5 mm (ZRC), stn B7, Catarman, Panglao I., 9°35.9′N, 123°51.8′E, 4–30 m, 5.vi.2004; 1 female SL 6.0 mm (ZRC), stn N8, Tawala, Panglao I., 9°32.8′N, 123°46.6′E, 32–55 m, 14.vi.2004; 1 ovig. female SL 4.5 mm, 2 males SL 5.0–6.0 mm (ZRC), stn R58, Looc (lagoon side), Panglao I., 9°35.7′N, 123°44.7′E, 1–3 m, 22.vi.2004 .

Habitat. Subtidal, 2 to approximately 40 m, reef flats, seagrass beds, mangroves, and reef slopes, on sand and mud substrates.

Remarks. Among the species of Dardanus with the lateral face of propodus of the left third pereopod sculptured, D. setifer resembles D. crassimanus and D. scutellatus in the shape and proportion of cephalic appendages. The three species differ in having a heavily setose left third pereopod and left cheliped in D. crassimanus; the elongate palm of the left cheliped covered by short, stiff setae in D. scutellatus; and the short palm, covered by thorn-like spines, accompanied by short, stiff setae in D. setifer . This is the first record of this species from the Philippines.