Acanthonyx dentatus

Acanthonyx dentatus, the toothed decorator crab, is a species of crab in the family Inachidae.[2]

Acanthonyx dentatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Epialtidae
Genus:
Acanthonyx
Species:
A. dentatus
Binomial name
Acanthonyx dentatus
Synonyms
  • Dehaanius acanthopus MacLeay, 1838[1]
  • Dehaanius dentatus (Milne Edwards, 1834)[1]

Distribution

The toothed decorator crab is known around the southern African coast from Cape Columbine to Richards Bay subtidally to 43 metres (141 ft).[3] It is also known from the Red Sea.[1]

Description

The toothed decorator crab may grow to 40 millimetres (1.6 in) across. It is usually a well camouflaged crab, decorating its carapace with hydroids and seaweeds, offering camouflage and also defence, since hydroids sting and many seaweeds are chemically noxious. Its carapace is teardrop-shaped with two sharp spines projecting forwards between its eyes. There are two marginal spines on its carapace. It has stubby legs. It is a vivid pink-red to a dull brown in colour.[3]

Ecology

Vividly coloured when recently moulted, these animals are commonly found taking refuge among groups of striped anemones. The crabs use the anemones' habit of shooting sticky defensive threads through their body walls for their own defence.

References
  1. Peter Davie (2010). "Acanthonyx dentatus H. Milne Edwards, 1834". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  2. Peter K. L. Ng; Danièle Guinot; Peter J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06.
  3. G. M. Branch; M. L. Branch; C. L. Griffiths; L. E. Beckley (2010). Two Oceans: a Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0.
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