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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