Decapod Collection (page 3)

Commensal emperor shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) moves across the colourful red patterned surface of its host Candycane sea cucumber (Thelenota rubralineata)

Reef lizardifsh (Synodus variegatus) at a cleaning station, being cleaned by Holthuis anemone shrimps (Ancylomenes holthuisi). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea

Sally lightfoot crabs (Grapsus grapsus) on the beach at Puerto Egas, Santiago Island, Galapagos, May

Bubble coral shrimp (Vir philippinensis) on Bubble coral (Plerogyra sp). Anilao, Philippines

Close up of a Long clawed squat lobster (Munida rugosa) in Loch Carron, January 2016

Land Crab (Gecarcinus planatus) in defensive display, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve / Archipielago de Revillagigedo UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site (Socorro Islands)

Coral hermit crab (Paguritta sp) in coral home, Yap, Micronesia. Small repro only

Spiny Squat Lobster (Galathea strigosa) St Abbs Voluntary Marine Reserve, Scotland (North Sea)

Humpback Prawn (Pandalus montagui) St Abbs Voluntary Marine Reserve, Scotland (North Sea)

Spiny Spider Crab (Maja squinado) L Etac, Sark, British Channel Islands

Long clawed porcelain crab (Pisidia longicornis) on seashore, Sark, British Channel Islands

Broad-clawed Porcelain Crab (Porcellana platycheles) on sea shore, Sark, British Channel Islands

Female Harbour Crab with eggs (Liocarcinus depurator) Bouley Bay, Jersey, British Channel Islands

Squat Lobster (Galathea squamifera) on seaweed on the shore at Sark, British Channel Islands

European crayfish (Astacus astacus), underwater, August, Europe, controlled conditions

Anemone shrimp (Periclimenes holthuisi) Pak Lap Tsai, Sai Kung East Country Park, Hong Kong, China

Emperor shrimp (Periclemenes imperator) on sea cucumber (Thelenota ananas) Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sulu Sea, Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines

Decorator crab (unidentified) on Soft Coral at night. Due to the heavy decoration, the diagnostic features of many species are hidden from view

Candy stripe shrimp (Lebbeus grandimanus) on a yellow sponge. Browning Pass, Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Canada. North East Pacific Ocean

Sally lightfoot crab (Grapsus grapsus) at waters edge, Floreana Island, Galapagos

Pair of Tiger shrimps (Phyllognathia ceratophthalmus) on top of piece of coral. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea

A portrait of a small Candy stripe shrimp (Lebbeus grandimanus) in front of its host pink anemone (out of focus because of the magnification)

Photo showing detail of the underside and mount of a honeycomb sea star (Pentaceraster alveolatus) with two tiny shrimps (Periclimenes soror). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Red-spotted guard crab (Trapezia tigrina) female on a (Pocillopora sp. ) coral. Seraya
Red-spotted guard crab (Trapezia tigrina) female on a (Pocillopora sp.) coral. Seraya, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. Java Sea

Soft coral crab (Hoplophrys oatesil) climbing out onto a branch of yellow and red soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) at night. Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines

RF - Emperor shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) exploring alien-looking landscape of host sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus). Emperor shrimps are commensals on many hosts

Pair of Coleman shrimps (Periclimenes colemani) make their home in a fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium). The female is larger

Samurai crab (Heikea japonica). This crab is native to Japan, where it is known as the Samurai crab or Heikegani, and lives at a depth of 30 to 100 metres

Callinectes sapidus, blue crab

Macrocheira kaempferi, giant Japanese giant spider crab
Specimen of the giant Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi). This bottom-feeding, deep-sea crustacean is the largest crab in the world reaching a leg span of almost 4m

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A wave washes over a Sally Lightfoot Crab, Graspus graspus, searching for algae to dine on in the intertidal zone, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

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A crinoid commensal shrimp, Periclimenes cornutus, on a crinoid, Philippines. These tiny crustaceans are commensal on crinoids or feather stars and take their color from the host

Coral hermit crab, Paguritta vittata, Yap, Micronesia
This species of Coral hermit crab (Paguritta vittata) lives in a hole in hard coral and traps passing plankton in its feathery antennae; Yap, Federated States of Micronesia

Close-up of a White Stripe Cleaner Shrimp, Hawaii, USA
Close-up of a White Stripe Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis); Maui, Hawaii, United States of America

Close-up of Hermit Crab (Anomura) on Sand of Beach, La Digue, Seychelles

Hermit Crab (Anomura) on Sand at Beach, La Digue, Seychelles

Male helmet crab (Corystes cassivelaunus). This crab lives at a depth of 10-20 metres in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Adriatic Sea

Macrocheira kaempferi, Japanese spider crab
Specimen of the largest crab alive. When fully grown its legs can span amost 4m. It lives at the bottom of the Pacific around Japan

Limulus polyphemus, horsehoe crab
LS Plate 95 from the John Reeves Collection. John Reeves, a 19th Century Tea Inspector, travelled to Canton, China in order to develop a large collection of Chinese natural history drawings

Plate 90 from the John Reeves Collection
John Reeves, a 19th Century Tea Inspector, travelled to Canton, China in order to develop a large collection of Chinese natural history drawings

Cretaceous chalk seafloor
An artists impression of a Cretaceous (144 to 65 million years ago) hard chalk seafloor, where an ammonite floats above crinoids, sea urchins, brachiopods, molluscs, and a lobster

Portunus pelagicus, blue swimming crab
Plate 50 from Zoological drawings by Ferdinand Bauer. Ventral view of the large swimming crab native to Indo-Pacific waters

Pthirus pubis, crab louse
A crab louse with a body length 3.5 mm, this species of louse is known to sometimes infest the human body

Palaemonetes varians, ditch shrimp larva
Larva of the ditch shrimp in stage five of development, just prior to metamorphosis

Shrimp (infraorder Caridea). Photographed in the White Sea, Russia

Spiny Spider Crab (Maja squinado), view from above

Parribacus antarcticus, slipper lobster
Plate 55 from a collection of watercolour drawings of Hawaiian fishes and invertebrates. Watercolour on paper, c. 1900 by E. Gertrude Norrie (fl.1900s). Held in the Library and Archives

Shell and crab by Olga Makrushenko
Illustration (mixed media) by Olga Makrushenko

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Decapods, a fascinating group of crustaceans, encompass a wide range of species that inhabit various ecosystems around the world. From the majestic Astacus astacus Linnaeus, commonly known as crayfish, to the resilient Phragmites australis (Cav. ), or common reed, these creatures display remarkable diversity. In coastal regions like Kejimkujik, North America faces an ongoing battle with invasive species such as the European green crab (Carcinus maenas). This decapod disrupts local ecosystems and poses threats to native marine life. On the other hand, we witness captivating interactions between different species in places like Galapagos Islands. An American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) relentlessly chases after a Sally lightfoot crab (Grapsus grapsus), creating an exhilarating scene along the shoreline. Traveling across continents brings us to Sunderban tiger reserve in West Bengal, India. Here we encounter the vibrant Yellow fiddler crab (Uca sp. ) showcasing its unique personality against a backdrop of lush mangroves. Meanwhile, on Tenerife's Canary Islands in October, a Red rock crab (Grapsus adscensionis) grazes peacefully on algae-covered rocks. The Cape Douglas coastline reveals another spectacle: Sally lightfoot crabs (Grapsus grapsus) perched confidently on rugged rocks amidst crashing waves—a testament to their adaptability and resilience. Venturing into Cienaga de Zapata National Park unveils nature's cleaning crew—the Pederson cleaner shrimp (Periclimenes pedersoni)—as they diligently attend to their host organisms. Nature never ceases to amaze; it presents us with extraordinary symbiotic relationships too. The commensal emperor shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) hitchhikes on Nudibranchs' backs—specifically Risbecia tryoni—forming a unique partnership that benefits both parties.