Petrochirus diogenes

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Petrochirus diogenes
Petrochirus diogenes 1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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. Petrochirus diogenes.jpg
Petrochirus diogenes in a subadult shell of a queen conch.

References

  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.