LAUSR

ABSTRACT The present study investigates the occurrence of crustaceans inhabiting shells of Triphoroidea (consisting of small-sized gastropods, with right or left coiling) along the western Atlantic. Shells of the newtoniellid Retilaskeya emersonii were occupied by the tanaidacean Pagurotanais bouryi and one hermit crab (Paguridae sp. 1), and possibly by the amphipod Ampithoe sp. One shell of Cerithiopsis cf. dominguezi had the tanaidacean Pagurapseudinae living inside of it, whereas a shell of Cerithiopsis gemmulosa sheltered the tanaidacean P. bouryi. Shells of the triphorid species Metaxia taeniolata, Marshallora modesta and Nototriphora decorata were occupied by the hermit crabs Paguridae sp. 2 and Paguridae sp. 3 and the tanaidacean Leptochelia sp., respectively. Analysis of collections made during this study indicates that the presence of crustaceans in sinistral shells of Triphoridae may be not as rare as previously suggested in the literature.