Pink Cuke With Crab

[jimroth]

I was at an LFS and they had this unusual pair -- a pink cucumber with a little crab "friend" (pest, helper, parasite?)
I took some pictures in the bag because I was sure I'd never see it once it crawled into the rocks, but actually it's been out in the open a lot. The crab hangs out underneath, I flipped the cuke for these pictures. I shall call you "Rorschach!"

Really hangs on for dear life there. I wonder what kind of crab it is? Man, imagine life as a cuke, crabs hanging on to your belly, fish swimming right up the wazoo, I mean, ferget it!

Hello, are you good to eat?

 

[LeslieH]

Lissocarcinus orbicularis, the commensal harlequin crab. These live on sea cucumbers, usually on the underside up by the mouth. Food for the crabs is primarily small bottom-dwelling copepods & molluscs. the position of the crab is probably due to better scrounging for food while the cuke is stirring up the bottom.

 

[Fluid]

Wow that sea cucumber looks weird/disgusting.

 

[harleychic]

Aren't those the crabs that are commensal with tube anemones? I've been trying to find a source for one of those!

 

[LeslieH]

A related species, Lissocarcinus laevis, prefers anemones.

 

[jimroth]

Wow! thanks Leslie, you are a great help. Who (else) would have known?