Ecology ²

This species lives commensaly in the mantle cavity of various bivalvia and tunicates.

Taxon biology ³

The pea crab lives between the shells of other molluscs. The only thing it wants is protection; pea crabs don't harm their host. Females spend their entire life in these shells; you sometimes find males outside the protective host. The females are so transparent that you can easily distinguish their yellow and red innards. Pea crabs are tiny. Females grow up to a maximum of 13 millimeters in length and the males only 6 millimeters.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Christophe Quintin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/34878947@N04/6250820922/
2. (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/28494461
3. (c) Copyright Ecomare, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/22759173

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• SeaLifeBase
• World Register of Marine Species

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