Biology:Acanthonyx dentatus

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Short description: Species of crab

Acanthonyx dentatus
Acanthonyx dentatus.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Epialtidae
Genus: Acanthonyx
Species:
A. dentatus
Binomial name
Acanthonyx dentatus
H. Milne-Edwards, 1834
Synonyms
  • Dehaanius acanthopus MacLeay, 1838[1]
  • (Milne Edwards, 1834)[1] Dehaanius dentatus

Acanthonyx dentatus, the toothed decorator crab, is a species of crab in the family Inachidae.[2]

Distribution

The toothed decorator crab is known around the southern African coast from Cape Columbine to Richards Bay subtidally to 43 metres (141 ft).[3] It is also known from the Red Sea.[1]

Description

The toothed decorator crab may grow to 40 millimetres (1.6 in) across. It is usually a well camouflaged crab, decorating its carapace with hydroids and seaweeds, offering camouflage and also defence, since hydroids sting and many seaweeds are chemically noxious. Its carapace is teardrop-shaped with two sharp spines projecting forwards between its eyes. There are two marginal spines on its carapace. It has stubby legs. It is a vivid pink-red to a dull brown in colour.[3]

Ecology

Vividly coloured when recently moulted, these animals are commonly found taking refuge among groups of striped anemones. The crabs use the anemones' habit of shooting sticky defensive threads through their body walls for their own defence.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Peter Davie (2010). "Acanthonyx dentatus H. Milne Edwards, 1834". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=210141. 
  2. Peter K. L. Ng; Danièle Guinot; Peter J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 17: 1–286. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606061453/http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s17/s17rbz.pdf. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 G. M. Branch; M. L. Branch; C. L. Griffiths; L. E. Beckley (2010). Two Oceans: a Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0. 

Wikidata ☰ Q4671998 entry