Distribution & Ecology: Society (Tahiti) - Marine; Shoreline to 10 m; Hard bottom.

Regional Records: Porcellana rufescens - Heller, 1865: 76 (Tahiti). - Poupin, 1996a: 21, 22, 77 (Checklist). - Not Petrolisthes rufescens - Nobili, 1907: 377 (cf. Remark). - Poupin, 1994a: 25, fig. 21, pl. 2h = P. borradailei Kropp, 1983 fide Kropp personal communication. - Remark: Petrolisthes rufescens and P. borradailei are two very close species. The main difference concerned the posterior border of the cheliped carpus, strongly toothed in P. borradailei, more smooth in P. rufescens. We have confused these two species in a previous work (Poupin, 1994a) and re-examination of Nobili's material in Paris (female ov. 8x7.3, MNHN Ga96) shows that it also belongs to P. borradailei. Heller's reference remains the only record of P. rufescens in the pacific; it could also belongs to P. borradailei ?