Homolidae

Homolidae
Paromola cuvieri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Infraorder:	Brachyura
Section:	Dromiacea
Superfamily:	Homoloidea
Family:	Homolidae De Haan, 1839

The family Homolidae, known as carrier crabs^[1] or porter crabs,^[2] contains 14 genera of marine crabs. They mostly live on the continental slope and continental shelf, and are rarely encountered.^[3] Members of the Homolidae have their fifth pereiopods (last pair of walking legs) in a sub-dorsal position, which allows them to hold objects in place over the rear half of the carapace.^[3] The objects carried include sponges, black corals and gorgonians, and this is behaviour may be a defence mechanism against predators.^[3] Some species have been observed carrying living sea urchins in a symbiotic relationship which allows them to benefit from the protection of the urchin's dangerous spikes.^[4][5]

Genera

A total of 14 genera are currently recognised in the family:^[6]

• Dagnaudus Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995
• Gordonopsis Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995
• Homola Leach, 1816
• Homolax Alcock, 1899
• Homolochunia Doflein, 1904
• Homologenus A. Milne-Edwards, in Henderson, 1888
• Homolomannia Ihle, 1912
• Ihlopsis Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995
• Lamoha Ng, 1998
• Latreillopsis Henderson, 1888
• Moloha Barnard, 1947
• Paromola Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891
• Paromolopsis Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891
• Yaldwynopsis Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995

See also

• Paromola cuvieri, found in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea
• Homola barbata, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

References