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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, Family Galatheidae
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By Bob Fenner |
Allgalathea 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 red spotting. Commensal with
(and sometimes in the mouth of) anemones. West Pacific; Australia,
Indonesia, Philippines. N. Sulawesi pix. |
 
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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. Do best in systems with Caulerpa
being cultured. Aquarium image. |
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Petrolisthes galathinus, or
Shame-Faced Crabs. 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. |
 
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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 pix. |
 
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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, Enewetak, Indonesia. To 2 cm. N. Sulawesi pix.
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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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| 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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