Hoplophrys

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Hoplophrys oatesi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Epialtidae
Subfamily:
Pisinae
Genus:
Hoplophrys

Henderson, 1893
Species:
H. oatesi
Binomial name
Hoplophrys oatesi
Henderson, 1893

Hoplophrys is a monotypic genus of crab in the family Epialtidae. It contains the single species Hoplophrys oatesi, also known as the candy crab, Oates's soft coral crab, commensal soft coral crab and Dendronephthya crab.[1][2][3][4]

Description

Hoplophrys oatesi is a very colourful crab that grows from 1.5 to 2 cm. It lives on various species of soft coral in the genus Dendronephthya. It camouflages itself by mimicking the colours of the polyps among which it hides. It adds further camouflage by attaching polyps to its carapace. Colours vary depending on the colour of the coral, and may be white, pink, yellow or red.

The first pair of legs of this species has small claws. The body has pointed spines with a red and white pattern, similar in appearance to the host coral.[5]

Distribution and habitat

This crab is widespread in the Indo-Pacific in tropical climates. It is found in the benthic zone at depths of 1–90 metres (3 ft 3 in – 295 ft 3 in).[6]

Diet

Hoplophrys oatesi feeds on plankton.

References

  1. ^ ScubaVision, www.scubavision.de. "Photo Image Candy crab Hoplophrys oatesii". Lembehresort.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  2. ^ "The Candy Crab - Identify tropical fish". Whats That Fish!. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  3. ^ Peter Davie (2012). "Hoplophrys". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  4. ^ Peter Davie (2012). "Hoplophrys oatesi Henderson, 1893". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  5. ^ http://www.lembehresort.com/candy_crab_hoplophrys_oatesii_c14.html[dead link]
  6. ^ Palomares ML, Pauly D, eds. (2023). "Hoplophrys oatesii" in SeaLifeBase. March 2023 version.

Further reading

External links

Retrieved from "https://mdwiki.org/wiki/Hoplophrys"