The West Atlantic Hoary Rubble Crab, Banareia palmeri, Behaves Like a Corallivore

Diversity, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 144 - 144

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

Various photographs of the West Atlantic hoary rubble crab, Banareia palmeri (Rathbun, 1894), published on internet show individuals being perched branching octocorals. This habitat relationship has not been given attention in scientific literature. The crab belongs to brachyuran decapod family Xanthidae, which includes other species that associate with corals and zoantharians. Other aspects biology B. palmeri, such as its diet, are unknown. During a night dive Bonaire, an individual was observed cutting off tip sea rod, Pseudoplexaura sp., pulling loose fragment hiding place. also association octocoral species, Gorgonia ventalina Linnaeus, 1758. Close examination crab’s claws revealed inner edges resemble saws by bearing tooth-like structures sharp edges, explains how this animal is able cut through coral’s soft tissue horny axis. These findings suggest expert clipping branches, may explain why some rod branches can be missing their original rounded tips have regenerated pointy ends instead. Considering octocoral’s regeneration capacity, it would relevant study fast these branch heal whether fragments escaping from survive. Future gut contents aquarium experiments provide more information about dietary preferences.

Language: Английский

A review of benthic cnidarians as underappreciated predators in the gelatinous ocean

Marine Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 172(5)

Published: April 16, 2025

Language: Английский

Diversity of ctenophores from the Cuban Exclusive Economic Zone

Marine Biology Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 16

Published: April 29, 2025

Language: Английский