Hermit crab and anemone

Hermit crab and anemone

Description

These hermit crabs are of the Parapaguridae with anemones on the shells. Given the depth, the hermits in these photos are almost certainly of the genus Parapagurus. The differences between species are often quite subtle, so it is impossible to say for certain which species are shown. There are 4 species of Parapagurus reported from this area. They are likely either P. bouvieri or P. andreui, or perhaps even both species. Both associate with Epizoanthus spp., but they can occasionally be found in shells where the coelenterate is not as well developed and only partially covers the housing. In this case the larger crab appears to be carrying the smaller one P. pilosimanus is found only in the Atlantic (both sides), and so far have not seen any from the Indian Ocean.

Item Type:Image
Title:Hermit crab and anemone
Creator(s):Gates, A.
Date:06 November 2012
Time:15:06
Copyright:SERPENT
Classification:Kingdom Animalia > Phylum Cnidaria (Cnidarians) > Anthozoa (Sea Anemones & Corals) > Zoanthidea, Kingdom Animalia > Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) > Class Malacostraca (Crabs, krill, pill bugs, shrimps, prawns) > Order Decapoda (Crabs, lobsters, prawns, shrimps) > Family Parapaguridae (Hermit Crabs)
Species:Parapagurus sp., Epizoanthus sp.
Behaviour:The anemone, Epizoanthus sp. is on the shell of the hermit crab Parapagurus sp. The larger crab is carrying the smaller one.
Site:Indian > Indian Ocean > East Africa > Mzia-3
Depth (m):1767
Countries:East Africa > Tanzania
Habitat:Benthic
Substratum:Deep-sea mud
Rig:Deep Sea Metro I
Project Partners:BG Group, Oceaneering
ROV:Millennium 113
Keywords:Parapagurus Hermit anemone epizoanthus
Deposited By:Dr Andrew Gates
Deposited On:11 September 2014

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