Petrochirus diogenes
Appearance
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Species: | P. diogenes
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Binomial name | |
Petrochirus diogenes |
Petrochirus diogenes is a giant marine hermit crab. This species lives in the Caribbean Sea, and often inhabits conch shells.[1] This species of hermit crab is large enough that it can inhabit a fully grown shell of Lobatus gigas. It will attack and eat a conch, thus obtaining a meal and a shell.[2] It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus as Cancer diogenes;[3] the specific epithet honours Diogenes of Sinope.[4]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Petrochirus_diogenes.jpg/220px-Petrochirus_diogenes.jpg)
References
- ^ "Petrochirus diogenes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- ^ 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]
- ^ P. Davie & M. Türkay (2010). "Cancer Linnaeus, 1758". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ^ Mark Isaak (September 8, 2010). "Etymology: Named after People". Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature. Retrieved September 8, 2010.