Anomura
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Anomura
Anomura (sometimes Anomala) is a group of Decapoda, decapod crustaceans, including hermit crabs and others. Although the names of many anomurans include the word ''crab'', all true crabs are in the sister group to the Anomura, the Brachyura (the two groups together form the clade Meiura). Description The name Anomura derives from an old classification in which Reptantia, reptant decapods were divided into Macrura (long-tailed), Brachyura (short-tailed) and Anomura (differently-tailed). The alternative name Anomala reflects the unusual variety of forms in this group; whereas all crabs share some obvious similarities, the various groups of anomurans are quite dissimilar. The group has been moulded by several instances of carcinisation – the development of a crab-like body form. Thus, the king crabs (Lithodidae), porcelain crabs (Porcellanidae) and hairy stone crab (Lomisidae) are all separate instances of carcinisation. As decapods (meaning ''ten-legged''), anomurans have ten pe ...
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Aegloidea
The Aeglidae are a family of freshwater crustaceans currently restricted to South America. They are the only anomurans to be found in fresh water except for a single hermit crab species, ''Clibanarius fonticola'', on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. They live between 20° S and 50° S, at altitudes between . Description Aeglids resemble squat lobsters in that the abdomen is partly tucked under the thorax. The notable sexual dimorphism in the abdomen is related to the behaviour of carrying fertilised eggs on the pleopods. The carapace length of the largest species may approach , but most are considerably smaller. Aeglids are omnivorous, preferring plant matter, but also eating adult insects, molluscs, fish and fly larvae. The internal anatomy has been described for ''Aegla cholchol'' and generally resembles that of other anomurans, particularly galatheoid squat lobsters. The morphology of the antennal gland bladder differs from that in other anomurans in having a twisted tubular struc ...
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Hippoidea
Hippoidea is a superfamily of decapod crustaceans known as sand crabs or mole crabs. Ecology Hippoids are adapted to burrowing into sandy beaches, a habit they share with raninid crabs, and the parallel evolution of the two groups is striking. In the family Hippidae, the body is almost ovoid, the first pereiopods have no claws, and the telson is long, none of which are seen in related groups. Unlike most other decapods, sand crabs cannot walk; instead, they use their legs to dig into the sand. Members of the family Hippidae beat their uropods to swim. Apart from the polar regions, hippoids can be found on beaches throughout the world. Larvae of one species have also been found in Antarctic waters, despite the lack of suitable sandy beaches in the Antarctic. Classification Alongside hermit crabs and allies (Paguroidea), squat lobsters and allies (Galatheoidea) and the hairy stone crab (''Lomis hirta'', Lomisoidea), Hippoidea is one of the four groups that make up the infraorde ...
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Hairy Stone Crab
The hairy stone crab (''Lomis hirta'') is a crab-like crustacean that lives in the littoral zone of southern Australia from Bunbury, Western Australia, to the Bass Strait. It is the only species in its family. It is wide, slow-moving, and covered in brown hair which camouflages it against the rocks upon which it lives. Some controversy exists about the relationship between ''L. hirta'' and the other anomuran families. Candidates for its closest relatives have included hermit crabs, specifically king crabs, and ''Aegla''. It is clear, however, that ''Lomis'' represents a separate case of carcinisation Carcinisation (or carcinization) is an example of convergent evolution in which a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab-like form. The term was introduced into evolutionary biology by L. A. Borradaile, who describe .... Notes References {{Taxonbar, from=Q3781116 Anomura Crustaceans of Australia Crustaceans described in 1818 ...
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Lomisoidea
The hairy stone crab (''Lomis hirta'') is a crab-like crustacean that lives in the littoral zone of southern Australia from Bunbury, Western Australia, to the Bass Strait. It is the only species in its family. It is wide, slow-moving, and covered in brown hair which camouflages it against the rocks upon which it lives. Some controversy exists about the relationship between ''L. hirta'' and the other anomuran families. Candidates for its closest relatives have included hermit crabs, specifically king crabs, and ''Aegla''. It is clear, however, that ''Lomis'' represents a separate case of carcinisation Carcinisation (or carcinization) is an example of convergent evolution in which a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab-like form. The term was introduced into evolutionary biology by L. A. Borradaile, who describe .... Notes References {{Taxonbar, from=Q3781116 Anomura Crustaceans of Australia Crustaceans described in 1818 ...
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Hermit Crab
Hermit crabs are anomuran decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea that have adapted to occupy empty scavenged mollusc shells to protect their fragile exoskeletons. There are over 800 species of hermit crab, most of which possess an asymmetric abdomen concealed by a snug-fitting shell. Hermit crabs' soft (non-calcified) abdominal exoskeleton means they must occupy shelter produced by other organisms or risk being defenseless. The strong association between hermit crabs and their shelters has significantly influenced their biology. Almost 800 species carry mobile shelters (most often calcified snail shells); this protective mobility contributes to the diversity and multitude of crustaceans found in almost all marine environments. In most species, development involves metamorphosis from symmetric, free-swimming larvae to morphologically asymmetric, benthic-dwelling, shell-seeking crabs. Such physiological and behavioral extremes facilitate a transition to a sheltered ...
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Porcelain Crab
Porcelain crabs are decapod crustaceans in the widespread family Porcellanidae, which superficially resemble true crabs. They have flattened bodies as an adaptation for living in rock crevices. They are delicate, readily losing limbs when attacked, and use their large claws for maintaining territories. They first appeared in the Tithonian age of the Late Jurassic epoch, 145–152 million years ago. Description Porcelain crabs are small, usually with body widths less than . They share the general body plan of a squat lobster, but their bodies are more compact and flattened, an adaptation for living and hiding under rocks. Porcelain crabs are quite fragile animals, and often shed their limbs to escape predators, hence their name. The lost appendage can grow back over several moults. Porcelain crabs have large chelae (claws), which are used for territorial struggles, but not for catching food. The fifth pair of pereiopods is reduced and used for cleaning. Evolution Porcelain cra ...
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Paguroidea
Hermit crabs are anomuran Decapoda, decapod crustaceans of the superfamily (taxonomy), superfamily Paguroidea that have adapted to occupy empty scavenged mollusc shells to protect their fragile exoskeletons. There are over 800 species of hermit crab, most of which possess an asymmetric abdomen concealed by a snug-fitting shell. Hermit crabs' soft (non-Marine biogenic calcification, calcified) abdominal exoskeleton means they must occupy shelter produced by other organisms or risk being defenseless. The strong association between hermit crabs and their shelters has significantly influenced their biology. Almost 800 species carry mobile shelters (most often calcified Gastropod shell, snail shells); this protective mobility contributes to the diversity and multitude of crustaceans found in almost all marine environments. In most species, development involves metamorphosis from symmetric, free-swimming larvae to morphologically asymmetric, benthic zone, benthic-dwelling, shell-seeking ...
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Carcinisation
Carcinisation (or carcinization) is an example of convergent evolution in which a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab-like form. The term was introduced into evolutionary biology by L. A. Borradaile, who described it as "one of the many attempts of Nature to evolve a crab". Most carcinised crustaceans belong to the infraorder Anomura. Definition of carcinised morphology It was stated by Lancelot Alexander Borradaile in 1916 that: Keiler et al., 2017 defines a carcinised morphology as follows: * "The carapace is flatter than it is broad and possesses lateral margins" * "The sternites are fused into a wide sternal plastron which possesses a distinct emargination on its posterior margin." * "The pleon is flattened and strongly bent, in dorsal view completely hiding the tergites of the fourth pleonal segment, and partially or completely covers the plastron" Examples Carcinisation is believed to have occurred independently in at least five grou ...
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Galatheoidea
The Galatheoidea are a superfamily of decapod crustaceans comprising the porcelain crabs and some squat lobsters. Squat lobsters within the three families of the superfamily Chirostyloidea are not closely related to the squat lobsters within the Galatheoidea. The fossil record of the superfamily extends back to the Middle Jurassic genus '' Palaeomunidopsis''. Classification These families and genera are included: ;Galatheidae Samouelle, 1819 *† ''Acanthogalathea'' Müller & Collins, 1991 – Upper Eocene * ''Alainius'' Baba, 1991 * ''Allogalathea'' Baba, 1969 * ''Allomunida'' Baba, 1988 * ''Coralliogalathea'' Baba & Javed, 1974 * ''Fennerogalathea'' Baba, 1988 * ''Galathea'' Fabricius, 1793 * ''Janetogalathea'' Baba & Wicksten, 1997 * ''Lauriea'' Baba, 1971 *† '' Lessinigalathea'' De Angeli & Garassino, 2002 – Lower Eocene *† '' Lophoraninella'' Glaessner, 1945 – Upper Cretaceous *† '' Luisogalathea'' Karasawa & Hayakawa, 2000 – Upper Cretaceous * '' Macrothea'' M ...
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Lithodoidea
King crabs are a taxon of decapod crustaceans chiefly found in cold seas. Because of their large size and the taste of their meat, many species are widely caught and sold as food, the most common being the red king crab (''Paralithodes camtschaticus''). King crabs are generally thought to be derived from hermit crab-like ancestors within the Paguridae, which may explain the asymmetry still found in the adult forms. This ancestry is supported by several anatomical peculiarities which are present only in king crabs and hermit crabs. Although some doubt still exists about this hypothesis, king crabs are the most widely quoted example of carcinisation among the Decapoda. The evidence for this explanation comes from the asymmetry of the king crab's abdomen, which is thought to reflect the asymmetry of hermit crabs, which must fit into a spiral shell. Controversial taxon Although formerly classified among the hermit crabs in the superfamily Paguroidea, king crabs are now placed in a ...
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Crab
Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all the world's oceans, in freshwater, and on land, are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, and have a single pair of pincers. They first appeared during the Jurassic Period. Description Crabs are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, composed primarily of highly mineralized chitin, and armed with a pair of chelae (claws). Crabs vary in size from the pea crab, a few millimeters wide, to the Japanese spider crab, with a leg span up to . Several other groups of crustaceans with similar appearances – such as king crabs and porcelain crabs – are not true crabs, but have evolved features similar to true crabs through a process known as carcinisation. Environment Crabs are found in all of the world's oceans, as well as in fresh w ...
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Crab
Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all the world's oceans, in freshwater, and on land, are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, and have a single pair of pincers. They first appeared during the Jurassic Period. Description Crabs are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, composed primarily of highly mineralized chitin, and armed with a pair of chelae (claws). Crabs vary in size from the pea crab, a few millimeters wide, to the Japanese spider crab, with a leg span up to . Several other groups of crustaceans with similar appearances – such as king crabs and porcelain crabs – are not true crabs, but have evolved features similar to true crabs through a process known as carcinisation. Environment Crabs are found in all of the world's oceans, as well as in fresh w ...
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