Cryptochiridae | |
---|---|
Lithoscaptus semperi | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Subsection: | Thoracotremata |
Superfamily: |
Cryptochiroidea Paul'son, 1875 |
Family: |
Cryptochiridae Paul'son, 1875 |
Genera | |
21, See text |
Cryptochiridae is a family of crabs known commonly as gall crabs or coral gall crabs. They live inside dwellings in corals and cause the formation of galls in the coral structure. [1] [2] The family is currently placed in its own superfamily, Cryptochiroidea.
Gall crabs are sexually dimorphic, with males being much smaller than females. Contrary to females, most males are free-living and "visit" females for mating. [1] [3]
These crabs are most common in shallow waters where they live in association with stony corals, but they have also been recorded from mesophotic zones and deep waters. [4] [5] They likely feed on mucus secreted by their coral hosts, as well as various detritus. Some species are thought to be filter feeders. [1]
Because crab size is related to gall size, it is likely that the crabs form the galls, rather than living randomly in a dwelling within a coral. Related groups of gall crab taxa share a similar gall type, suggesting that the crabs influence the morphology of the galls. [6]
The family contains the following twenty-one genera: [7] [8]
Cryptochiridae | |
---|---|
Lithoscaptus semperi | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Subsection: | Thoracotremata |
Superfamily: |
Cryptochiroidea Paul'son, 1875 |
Family: |
Cryptochiridae Paul'son, 1875 |
Genera | |
21, See text |
Cryptochiridae is a family of crabs known commonly as gall crabs or coral gall crabs. They live inside dwellings in corals and cause the formation of galls in the coral structure. [1] [2] The family is currently placed in its own superfamily, Cryptochiroidea.
Gall crabs are sexually dimorphic, with males being much smaller than females. Contrary to females, most males are free-living and "visit" females for mating. [1] [3]
These crabs are most common in shallow waters where they live in association with stony corals, but they have also been recorded from mesophotic zones and deep waters. [4] [5] They likely feed on mucus secreted by their coral hosts, as well as various detritus. Some species are thought to be filter feeders. [1]
Because crab size is related to gall size, it is likely that the crabs form the galls, rather than living randomly in a dwelling within a coral. Related groups of gall crab taxa share a similar gall type, suggesting that the crabs influence the morphology of the galls. [6]
The family contains the following twenty-one genera: [7] [8]