Jump to content

Petrochirus diogenes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Petrochirus diogenes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Anomura
Family: Diogenidae
Genus: Petrochirus
Species:
P. diogenes
Binomial name
Petrochirus diogenes

The Giant Hermit Crab[1] (Petrochirus diogenes)is a species of marine hermit crab. This species lives in the Caribbean Sea, and often inhabits conch shells.[2] This species of hermit crab is large enough that it can inhabit a fully grown shell of the queen conch. It will attack and eat a conch, thus obtaining a meal and a shell.[3] It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus as Cancer diogenes;[4] the specific epithet honours Diogenes of Sinope.[5]

Petrochirus diogenes in a subadult shell of a queen conch.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://irlspecies.org/taxa/index.php?taxon=8331&cl=36
  2. ^ "Petrochirus diogenes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  3. ^ 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.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ P. Davie & M. Türkay (2010). "Cancer Linnaeus, 1758". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  5. ^ Mark Isaak (September 8, 2010). "Etymology: Named after People". Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature. Retrieved September 8, 2010.