Related FAQs: Squat Lobsters, Hermit
Crabs, Hermit Crabs
2, Micro-Crustaceans,
Amphipods, Copepods, Mysids, Hermit
Crabs, Shrimps,
Cleaner
Shrimps, Banded Coral
Shrimp, Mantis
Shrimp, Anemone
Eating Shrimp,
Related Articles: Hermit
Crabs, Crustaceans,
Marine
Crabs, Freshwater
to Brackish Crabs, Algae
Control, Marine
Maintenance, Reef
Maintenance, Marine Scavengers,
Squat Lobsters & Porcelain Crabs,
Families Galatheidae & Porcellanidae
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By Bob Fenner
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Allogalathea elegans
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Much like the related Hermit Crabs, this is a group of Anomurans
with oval bodies, pointed rostrums. They're called lobsters due to
their long chelipeds. There are some very striking members of the
Galatheids, though most are small, found as commensals on corals and
crinoids.
Family Porcellanidae; Porcelain, Anemone Crabs.
Live within Anemones tentacles. Will chase out Clownfishes if they
can... or be chased out by them. Filter feeders (use modified, long
third maxillipeds) that can do well in captivity. Movable abdomen aids
them in rapid movement. Mainly Neopetrolisthes, Petrolisthes,
Petrocheles. Typified as having flattened chelipeds, long
antennae.
Neopetrolisthes maculata (H. Milne Edwards
1837). Flattened, large chelipeds. White body with fine red
spotting. Commensal with (and sometimes in the mouth of) anemones.
West Pacific; Australia, Indonesia, Philippines. N. Sulawesi
pix. |
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Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies.
Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size. |
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Neopetrolisthes ohshimai Miyake 1937, the
Spotted Anemone Crab. Indo-Australia; including Pacific Islands.
Almost always found in pairs in the wild (have to be bought as such
if keeping two). Chased from Anemones by Clownfishes. Large red
spots on creamy white bodies. Aquarium and N. Sulawesi
images. Neopetrolisthes ohshimai is considered a synonym for
N. maculata by many references. |
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Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked
to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images
to go to the larger size. |
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Petrolisthes galathinus (Bosc 1802) A Porcelain Crab. Live on sand substrates, tropical seas
worldwide. One to a tank, not to be trusted with invertebrates.
Okay with burrowing fishes. Take all foods, nocturnal. Eastern Pacific. |
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Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked
to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images
to go to the larger size. |
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Porcellanella picta Stimpson 1858. Whitish
to translucent bodied. Found in association with Sea Pens (
Pteroeides,
Veritellum spp.). Females larger. Western Pacific; Japan,
Philippines, Indonesia. N. Sulawesi pic. |
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Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked
to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images
to go to the larger size. |
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Porcellanella sp. N. Sulawesi (Lembeh
Strait) pic. |
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Family Galatheidae: Squat Lobsters
Allogalathea elegans (White 1847). Color
variable with species of commensal crinoid it's found on. Bear
a mid-line "racing stripe" except in cases of all red (on
red Featherstars) individuals. Western Pacific; Australia,
Eniwetok, Indonesia. To 2 cm. N. Sulawesi pix. |
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Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are
linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed"
images to go to the larger size. |
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Lauriea siagiani Baba 1994. Hairy (Sponge)
Squat Lobster. Gorgeous pink color with purple stripes on body and
legs, similarly colored spots on chelipeds, many white and pink
spines on body. Almost always occurs on Xestospongia (large brown
vase sponges). N. Sulawesi pix. |
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Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies.
Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size. |
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Galathea sp.U1 N. Sulawesi pix. |
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Galathea sp.U2 N. Sulawesi pix. |
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Galathea sp. U3 N. Sulawesi pic. Here on
Halimeda. |
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Galathea sp. U4 N. Sulawesi pic. Here on a
sponge. |
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