The Boxing CrabThe Boxing Crab

By Evan AlvarezBy Evan Alvarez

The Boxing CrabThe Boxing Craba.k.a. The Pom-Pom Craba.k.a. The Pom-Pom Crab

ClassificationClassification Kingdom: AnimaliaKingdom: Animalia Phylum: ArthropodaPhylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: CrustaceaSubphylum: Crustacea Class: MalacostracaClass: Malacostraca Order DecapodaOrder Decapoda Infraorder: BrachyuraInfraorder: Brachyura Family: XanthidaeFamily: Xanthidae Genus: LybiaGenus: Lybia Species: tesselataSpecies: tesselata

The Boxing Crab is found in tropical marine The Boxing Crab is found in tropical marine habitats, usually in the Pacific or Indian habitats, usually in the Pacific or Indian Ocean.Ocean.

They’re omnivorous.They’re omnivorous. They can live up to five years.They can live up to five years. For the most part, they’re completely For the most part, they’re completely

average crabs, except for one trait:average crabs, except for one trait:

This is a Sea AnemoneThis is a Sea Anemone

SymbiosisSymbiosis

The Boxing Crab shows an example of The Boxing Crab shows an example of mutualismmutualism. It holds a sea anemone on each . It holds a sea anemone on each of its claws, and then uses them for self-of its claws, and then uses them for self-defense.defense.

For the crab, the anemone provide For the crab, the anemone provide protection, as it’s stinging cells can protect it protection, as it’s stinging cells can protect it from predators.from predators.

The anemone, in turn, receives scraps of The anemone, in turn, receives scraps of food from whatever the crab feeds on.food from whatever the crab feeds on.

Attempts at introducing the Boxing Attempts at introducing the Boxing Crab to home aquariums have been Crab to home aquariums have been met with great success, due to their met with great success, due to their

good temperament.good temperament.

The anemones cannot be kept The anemones cannot be kept through the molting process and are through the molting process and are

always discarded at those times.always discarded at those times.

But in these events, sponges or But in these events, sponges or coral are usually substituted until coral are usually substituted until

new anemones can be found.new anemones can be found.

Boxing Crabs are tiny, tiny creatures. They don't usually grow much larger than a centimeter or two.

Sources UsedSources Used

• www.saltwaterfish.comwww.saltwaterfish.com • www.aquariaworld.co.ukwww.aquariaworld.co.uk• www.itis.govwww.itis.gov (Integrated Taxonomic (Integrated Taxonomic

Integration System)Integration System)• www.wetwebmedia.com/www.wetwebmedia.com/

PomPomCrabF.htmPomPomCrabF.htm