Michael Eisenbart
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Gall crabs - Family Cryptochiridae (Cryptochiridae Paulson, 1875)
Coral-associated invertebrates form a major part of the diversity on reefs, but their distribution and occurrence patterns are virtually unstudied.
Gall crabs or coral gall crabs live inside cavities in corals.They are sexually dimorphic. Males much smaller than females.
Gall crabs live in shallow and deep water associated with different corals.
Coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) are obligate symbionts of stony corals. They likely feed on mucus secreted by their coral hosts, as well as various detritus.Harmless or parasitic animals, of which is not yet cleared.
The photo of the Yellow-legged Coral Gall Crab was taken from Romblon, Phillipines. Its an undescribed species of Lithoscaptus sp..
Coral-associated invertebrates form a major part of the diversity on reefs, but their distribution and occurrence patterns are virtually unstudied.
Gall crabs or coral gall crabs live inside cavities in corals.They are sexually dimorphic. Males much smaller than females.
Gall crabs live in shallow and deep water associated with different corals.
Coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) are obligate symbionts of stony corals. They likely feed on mucus secreted by their coral hosts, as well as various detritus.Harmless or parasitic animals, of which is not yet cleared.
The photo of the Yellow-legged Coral Gall Crab was taken from Romblon, Phillipines. Its an undescribed species of Lithoscaptus sp..
