Homolidae

The family Homolidae, known as carrier crabs[1] or porter crabs,[2] contains 14 genera of marine crabs. They mostly live on the continental slope and continental shelf, and are rarely encountered.[3] Members of the Homolidae have their fifth pereiopods (last pair of walking legs) in a sub-dorsal position, which allows them to hold objects in place over the rear half of the carapace.[3] The objects carried include sponges, black corals and gorgonians, and this behaviour may be a defence mechanism against predators.[3] Some species have been observed carrying living sea urchins in a symbiotic relationship which allows them to benefit from the protection of the urchin's dangerous spikes.[4][5][6][7]

Homolidae
Paromola cuvieri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Section: Dromiacea
Superfamily: Homoloidea
Family: Homolidae
De Haan, 1839

Genera

A total of 14 genera are currently recognised in the family:[8]

  • Dagnaudus Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995
  • Gordonopsis Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995
  • Homola Leach, 1816
  • Homolax Alcock, 1899
  • Homolochunia Doflein, 1904
  • Homologenus A. Milne-Edwards, in Henderson, 1888
  • Homolomannia Ihle, 1912
  • Ihlopsis Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995
  • Lamoha Ng, 1998
  • Latreillopsis Henderson, 1888
  • Moloha Barnard, 1947
  • Paromola Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891
  • Paromolopsis Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891
  • Yaldwynopsis Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995

See also

References
  1. Family Homolidae - carrier crabs at sealifebase.org
  2. Family Homolidae (Porter crabs) at the Marine Species Identification Portal
  3. Mary K. Wicksten (1985). "Carrying behavior in the family Homolidae (Decapoda: Brachyura)". Journal of Crustacean Biology. 5 (3): 476–479. doi:10.2307/1547919. JSTOR 1547919.
  4. "Relationships on the Reef". Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  5. Carrier Crab video Archived 2011-02-20 at the Wayback Machine, National Geographic
  6. "Carrier Crab". video.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved 2015-06-11.
  7. Bates, Mary (June 10, 2015). "Natural Bling: 6 Amazing Animals That Decorate Themselves". National Geographic News. Retrieved 2015-06-11.
  8. Peter Davie & Michael Türkay (2011). "Homolidae". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved April 27, 2011.


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