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Systematik

The family Homolidae, known as carrier crabs[1] or porter crabs,[2] contains 14 genera of marine crabs. They mostly live on the continental slope and continental shelf, and are rarely encountered.[3] Members of the Homolidae have their fifth pereiopods (last pair of walking legs) in a sub-dorsal position, which allows them to hold objects in place over the rear half of the carapace.[3] The objects carried include sponges, black corals and gorgonians, and this is behaviour may be a defence mechanism against predators.[3] Some species have been observed carrying living sea urchins in a symbiotic relationship which allows them to benefit from the protection of the urchin's dangerous spikes.[4][5]

A total of 14 genera are currently recognised in the family:[6]

Einzelnachweise

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  1. Family Homolidae - carrier crabs at sealifebase.org
  2. Family Homolidae (Porter crabs) at the Marine Species Identification Portal
  3. a b c Mary K. Wicksten: Carrying behavior in the family Homolidae (Decapoda: Brachyura). In: Journal of Crustacean Biology. 5. Jahrgang, Nr. 3, 1985, S. 476–479, JSTOR:1547919.
  4. Relationships on the Reef
  5. Carrier Crab video, National Geographic
  6. Peter Davie & Michael Türkay: Homolidae. World Register of Marine Species, 2011, abgerufen am 27. April 2011.