Any idea of this crab

[Hingeback]

Just posted a couple of pics of damage to an acro that this crab has done in the sps forum. The crab is now in my sump. Has any body any ideas as to what it is. The scientific name may be crabbus horribulous or evilus b-----dious ????

 

[LeslieH]

Possibly a xanthid in the genus Cymo. they like to hang out in acroporas although they're not commensals like the true acro crab species in the genera Trapezia and Tetralia. As you've seen they will damage corals so the sump is an excellent place for it.

 

[Hingeback]

Thanks for the reply, the damage this crab has done is unbelieveable for the size of it. Its only about 1/2 the size of a 10 cent coin.

Much appreciated.

 

[Snowboarda42]

I think those are called teady bear crabs

Sump him.

 

[LeslieH]

Not this one - it just looks to have some algae growing on it. The true Teddy Bear is Polydectus cupulifer which has unusual long setae (hairs) growing out of its shell. They normally carry anemones in their claws just like the pom pom crab Lybia tesselata. Here's a pic of one - http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/htms/kalainvr/fish_pops/xanthis/crab05.htm