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01/17/2010, 08:35 PM
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#1 |
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Floodicus Maximus Flooris
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,643
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Zebra Crabs or Not
Please help my identify these two crabs. My LFS identified them as Zebra Crabs
I am a Little Skeptical.  
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01/17/2010, 10:32 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: west tennessee
Posts: 1,600
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looks like a type of emerald-cant spell- crab to me. the zebras i have are hermits & have stripes just like a zebra. these may be called zebras as well. maybe someone will have more info
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01/17/2010, 11:52 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Round Bay, Maryland
Posts: 1,041
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Looks like a cross between a Sally lightfoot and an Emerald
This is a zebra crab 
Last edited by attml; 01/17/2010 at 11:54 PM. Reason: added more info |
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01/18/2010, 02:38 AM
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#4 | |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Reno, Nevada
Posts: 878
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Quote:
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01/18/2010, 11:28 AM
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#5 |
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Premium Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,178
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True zebra crabs - Zebrida adamsii - are obligate commensals on urchins. Fire urchins in the genus Asthenosoma are the most common hosts although they occasionally show up on Mespilia globulus & others. They create a living space for themselves by clipping off the pedicellaria & spines in a small area & feed on the epithelial tissues. It's unknown whether they will eventually kill their hosts & move onto another or if a healthy urchin can keep regenerating the tissue without problems.
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Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County |
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