The Brachyurans are regular crabs – 10 legged, hard shelled, crab-shaped creatures. In comparison the Anomurans comprise a much more morphologically diverse group and usually have only 8 visible legs.
These are seriously well armoured crabs, especially when everything is retracted. (2 Galleries)
Our urchin crabs will also carry other echinoderms such as starfish and sand dollars, even though they don't offer the same degree of protection!
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This small creature was first spotted by our eagle-eyed Divemaster Francisco, photos c/o Nicky C.
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They all seem to have a more or less conical body shape compared with the other Brachyurans. (3 Galleries)
These crabs are beautifully shaped and often well camouflaged.
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They are so called because of a set of back legs adapted for swimming. Many of them have nasty claws making them formidable predators!
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These small crabs live in symbiosis with Acropora and Pocillopora Corals. Classic mutualism.
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The crabs in this extensive family are mainly poisonous, containing the neurotoxin Tetrodotoxin. (2 Galleries)
Phangan Marine Life
