johnmaloney Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 This little sponge crab is something different than the usual. Anyone have a good resource for a species level identification? Best websites I have found so far are in Japanese and aren’t translating well. He is a hitchhiker, so I have narrowed it down to a Dromiidae from the tropics or sun tropics. Could be worse. I came with a picture this time. I don't want to disturb him too much, but I believe he is currently naked and that is not a sponge on him. I may handle him a little if it doesn’t become apparent. 1 3 Quote Link to comment
johnmaloney Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 This looks closest from what I have found: https://uw-pix.photoshelter.com/image/I0000239wtMCIEn8 But I think that species ID is inaccurate. He looks more like a Cryptodomia sp., maybe C. antillensis and just a slight variation from the normal ones we see. What do you think? Quote Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 I have no idea what that is, but I want it (assuming reef-safe). Haha. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
CD_Scapes Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 5 hours ago, Tigahboy said: I have no idea what that is, but I want it (assuming reef-safe). Haha. I want him more, I need to add to my collection of decorator crabs 1 Quote Link to comment
CD_Scapes Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 12 hours ago, johnmaloney said: This little sponge crab is something different than the usual. Anyone have a good resource for a species level identification? Best websites I have found so far are in Japanese and aren’t translating well. He is a hitchhiker, so I have narrowed it down to a Dromiidae from the tropics or sun tropics. Could be worse. I came with a picture this time. I don't want to disturb him too much, but I believe he is currently naked and that is not a sponge on him. I may handle him a little if it doesn’t become apparent. I would agree with that genus, I don’t think it’s been fully described down to speices as many of them look similar. Might need DNA tests to find out speices? Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 7 hours ago, Tigahboy said: I have no idea what that is, but I want it (assuming reef-safe). Haha. From my understanding they're not reef safe, they'll pick at inverts of all shapes and sizes, smaller fish too. Really cool crab, hope someone can get a more specific ID since there are so many types of these little buggers out there, who knows maybe this one plays nice lol. 2 Quote Link to comment
johnmaloney Posted July 10, 2019 Author Share Posted July 10, 2019 I have seen what scientists have been getting away with when it comes to "new species" and a different eye color I think would do it. 😂 When the do DNA testing it tends to get narrower lol... For example, Halophila johnsonii is probably Halophila ovalis, just a non native transplant to FL. DNA says so. But scientists have decided that it is a new species, because federal grant money is attached to it being an "endangered" (misclassified) species. 1 Quote Link to comment
johnmaloney Posted July 10, 2019 Author Share Posted July 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Amphrites said: From my understanding they're not reef safe, they'll pick at inverts of all shapes and sizes, smaller fish too. Really cool crab, hope someone can get a more specific ID since there are so many types of these little buggers out there, who knows maybe this one plays nice lol. This guy doesn't look reef safe to me either. Probably not I am afraid, they tend to have bad behavior throughout the family I think. It is in Mithracidae that we will find new species for the hobby I think. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 He is a cool little dood.... he looks velvety soft in the pic. Poor little guy running around butt naked! 🍑 Looks like the Dromidia antilensis to me? https://www.joelsartore.com/fis006-00047/ I feel like you are finding more cool shit this year. 1 Quote Link to comment
johnmaloney Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 Yeah I think so, I was thinking his eye color made him a different species. I think the newer classification is Cryptodomia. I could be mistaken, they need to settle on one compendium of crabs, sell it for free on kindle and coffee table full illustration format, and go from there. It is the only sensible thing. My understanding is that the crabs this genus are nocturnal and possibly smaller? 1 Quote Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 Hmm. He actually looks like a type of pebble crab to me. A LFS up north does get them from time to time during shipments. Leucosia sp. maybe? Here's Leucosia insularis: https://astronomy-to-zoology.tumblr.com/post/81231666489/leucosia-insularis-is-a-species-of-pebble-crab 1 Quote Link to comment
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