Petrochirus diogenes

Petrochirus diogenes is a giant marine hermit crab. This species lives in the Caribbean Sea, and often inhabits conch shells.[1] This species of hermit crab is large enough that it can inhabit a fully grown shell of Lobatus gigas. It will attack and eat a conch, thus obtaining a meal and a shell.[2] It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus as Cancer diogenes;[3] the specific epithet honours Diogenes of Sinope.[4]

Petrochirus diogenes in a subadult shell of Eustrombus gigas

Petrochirus diogenes
Scientific classification
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Phylum:
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Genus:
Petrochirus
Species:
P. diogenes
Binomial name
Petrochirus diogenes

References

  1. "Petrochirus diogenes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. E. S. Iversen, D. E. Jory & S. P. Bannerot (1986). "Predation on queen conchs, Strombus gigas, in the Bahamas". Bulletin of Marine Science. 39 (1): 61–75.
  3. P. Davie & M. Türkay (2010). "Cancer Linnaeus, 1758". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  4. Mark Isaak (September 8, 2010). "Etymology: Named after People". Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature. Retrieved September 8, 2010.


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