Calcinus guamensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Calcinus guamensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Anomura |
| Family: | Diogenidae |
| Genus: | Calcinus |
| Species: | C. guamensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Calcinus guamensis Wooster, 1984 | |
Calcinus guamensis is a species of hermit crab belonging to the Diogenidae family.[1][2] First discovered by D.S. Wooster in 1982, this species primarily lives in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam and Hawaii. It is one of several species in the genus Calcinus, known for their uneven claws and reliance on gastropod shells for protection.[3]
Calcinus guamensis was first collected and described by Daniel S. Wooster in 1982 during a study of the Mariana Islands. The species was named after Guam, where the original specimens were discovered. Wooster's research expanded the known diversity of the genus Calcinus in the Indo-Pacific region.[3][4]
Description
Calcinus guamensis is a small hermit crab with a maximum shell width of about 6 mm (0.24 in). It is easily recognized by its coloration of a mustard brown or olive that fades into white, with its walking legs dipped in black.[5] Its uneven claws, with the left being significantly larger, are bluish-green and differ from its reddish-brown body. [6] The walking legs are banded with alternating light and dark colors, and its beak is triangular and relatively short. The crab's left claw is used to block the entrance of its shell when under threat, providing an effective defense against predators—a behavior typical of many hermit crabs in the family Diogenidae.[5][6]
