Ryan Photographic - Porcellanidae - Porcelain crabs
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Family Porcellanidae
The family Porcellanidae lives in all oceans except in the polar regions. They are typically small and at first glance appear to have only three pairs of walking legs compared with the four pairs possessed by "true" crabs. In reality the fourth pair is small and pressed against the carapace. Although they possess chelae, these are used for intra-specific struggles rather than for feeding. Feeding is accomplished via long setae on the mouthparts which are extended into the water to trap drifting organic material. The porcelain crabs may have evolved from an ancestor of the squat lobsters. Their abdomen is tucked under the carapace and free to move.
The common name, porcelain crab, comes from their propensity to drop appendages (fragile as porcelain) which they grow back with great rapidity. There are currently around 277 species recognized in 30 genera.
Lissoporcellana nakasonei Soft coral porcelain crab
Lissoporcellana nakasonei Soft coral porcelain crab Magic Bay, Rao 5P7A6926
Lissoporcellana nakasonei Soft coral porcelain crab Magic Bay, Rao 5P7A6922
Lissoporcellana sp. Soft coral porcelain crab,
Lissoporcellana sp. Soft coral porcelain crab, Kri Eco,IMG_7501
Neopetrolisthes maculata Spotted porcelain crab
Neopetrolisthes maculata Spotted porcelain crab, Raja Ampat, West Papua IMG_3269
Neopetrolisthes maculata Spotted porcelain crab feeding Kri Eco, Raja Ampat IMG_8320
Neopetrolisthes maculata Spotted porcelain crab, Raja Ampat, West Papua IMG_3276
Neopetrolisthes maculata Spotted porcelain crab
Petrolisthes elongatus New Zealand porcelain crab, aquarium shot
Petrolisthes elongatus Half Crab, Somes Island, New Zealand IMG_0057
Porcellania haigae Haig's Porcelain Crab
Porcellania haigae Haig's Porcelain Crabs on Seapen, Puerto Galera, Philippine f1655129088
Invertebrates
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