Dromiidae is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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 ...

s, often referred to as sponge crabs. They are small or medium-sized crabs which get their name from the ability to shape a living

sponge Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate through t ...

into a portable shelter for themselves.Encarta Reference Library Premium 2005 DVD A sponge crab cuts out a fragment from a sponge and trims it to its own shape using its

claw A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or tarsus ...

s. The last two pairs of

legs A leg is a weight-bearing and locomotive anatomical structure, usually having a columnar shape. During locomotion, legs function as "extensible struts". The combination of movements at all joints can be modeled as a single, linear element ...

are shorter than other legs and bend upward over the crab's

carapace A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...

, to hold the sponge in place. The sponge grows along with the crab, providing a consistent shelter. The family Dromiidae contains the following subfamilies and genera: ;Dromiinae De Haan, 1833 *'' Alainodromia'' McLay, 1998 *'' Ameridromia'' † Blow & Manning, 1996 *'' Ascidiophilus'' Richters, 1880 *'' Austrodromidia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Barnardomia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Conchoecetes'' Stimpson, 1858 *'' Costadromia'' † Feldman and Schweitzer, 2019 *'' Cryptodromia'' Stimpson, 1858 *'' Cryptodromiopsis'' Borradaile, 1903 *'' Desmodromia'' McLay, 2001 *'' Dromia'' Weber, 1795 *'' Dromidia'' Stimpson, 1858 *'' Dromidiopsis'' Borradaile, 1900 *'' Dromilites'' † H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 *'' Epigodromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Epipedodromia'' André, 1932 *'' Eudromidia'' Barnard, 1947 *'' Exodromidia'' Stebbing, 1905 *'' Foredromia'' McLay, 2002 *'' Fultodromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Haledromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Hemisphaerodromia'' Barnard, 1954 *'' Homalodromia'' Miers, 1884 *'' Kerepesia'' † Müller, 1976 *'' Kromtitis'' † Müller, 1984 *'' Lamarckdromia'' Guinot & Tavares, 2003 *'' Lamarckdromia beagle'' McLay, 2022 *'' Lauridromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Lewindromia'' Guinot & Tavares, 2003 *'' Lucanthonisia'' † Van Bakel, Artal, Fraaije & Jagt, 2009 *'' Mclaydromia'' Guinot & Tavares, 2003 *'' Metadromia'' McLay, 2009 *'' Moreiradromia'' Guinot & Tavares, 2003 *'' Noetlingia'' † Beurlen, 1928 *'' Paradromia'' Balss, 1921 *'' Petalomera'' Stimpson, 1858 *'' Platydromia'' Brocchi, 1877 *'' Pseudodromia'' Stimpson, 1858d *'' Speodromia'' Barnard, 1947 *'' Stebbingdromia'' Guinot & Tavares, 2003 *'' Sternodromia'' Forest, 1974 *'' Stimdromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Takedromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Tumidodromia'' McLay, 2009 *'' Tunedromia'' McLay, 1993 ;Hypoconchinae Guinot & Tavares, 2003 *'' Hypoconcha'' Guérin-Méneville, 1854 ;Sphaerodromiinae Guinot & Tavares, 2003 *'' Eodromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Frodromia'' McLay, 1993 *'' Sphaerodromia'' Alcock, 1899

References

Dromiacea Taxa named by Wilhem de Haan Decapod families {{crab-stub