Harryplax

Harryplax
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Christmaplacidae
Genus: Harryplax
Mendoza & Ng, 2017
Type species
Harryplax severus
Mendoza & Ng, 2017

Harryplax severus is a species of crab found off the coast of Guam near the edge of the Philippine Sea. This crab is extremely small, measuring only 7.62 mm long by 5.08 mm wide and lives at depths of up to 7.6 m. Its shell is a pale-tan color and sits forward on its legs, which are nearly transparent. As is the case with many arthropods, H. Severus’ claws are asymmetric, with the right claw being about twice as large as the left. The crabs mouth is on the underside of its shell and is lined with a series of feeding appendages. The crab’s dark, prominent eyes are flanked by a pair of long antennae that point outward from their medial location.

Distribution

Harryplax severus is native to the western waters of the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of Guam, and has yet to be discovered in any other waters. H. severus resides in relatively shallow waters. Despite their habitat being well within the photic zone, the North Equatorial Current creates a large amount of wave action in this region, increasing the turbidity of the water, and making the environment rather dark and murky. This explains the stark lack of pigmentation in contrast to many related species. H. Severus have relatively immobile eyes and poor vision, but utilize a pair of large antennae to feel the movements of their prey. They live in burrows, often under or in the crevices of rubble which protects their homes from both detection by predators and destruction from the oceanic currents, while providing them with a more reliable food source. This Westward flowing deep-water current also creates an upwelling that bring nutrient rich water to the surface.

Life cycle

Prior to birth, eggs are taken out to sea by ebb tides where they hatch. The first developmental stage is the nauplius stage. Nauplius was originally published as a genus in 1785, before it was known to be the larvae of a copepods. At this stage, nauplii contain a single “naupliar eye” that is absent in later developmental stages of most groups. Zoea (also originally described as a genus in 1802) is the next stage of development, during which the larvae float around the open ocean feeding on various microorganisms that they encounter. The post-larval, megalopa, stage is characterized by the use of appendages for propulsion. It is during this time that megalopa find their way back to a livable adult habitat. Once back in the murky shallows, the still immature H. Severus begin to grow and reproduce.

Taxonomy

Harryplax is a member of the family Christmaplacidae and superfamily Pseudozioidea, which was previously grouped together with five other superfamilies (Eriphioidea, Carpilioidea, Xanthoidea, Pilumnoidea and Goneplacoidea). The discovery of several fossilized and extant species led to the distinction of Pseudozioidea as a superfamily containing eleven genera belonging to three different families.Christmaplacidae is one of these families, containing only two species: Harryplax Severus, and Chrismaplax mirabilis.[https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/images/data/raffles_bulletin_of_zoology/supplement30/S30_C28_263_273.pdf Christmaplax mirabilis, the only other known species in the family Chistmaplacidae, is native to Christmas Island off the coast of northern Australia.

History

Harryplax severus was originally discovered by marine biologist Harry Conley in 1998. Conley began conducting research on this newly discovered species, but as a result of his untimely death in 2002, the species remained unclassified for nearly two decades. Then, in 2015, this still-unnamed crab resurfaced as Peter K.L. Ng and Jose C. Mendoza, scientists at the National University of Singapore, picked up the research that had been started by Conley in 1998. In 2017, H. severus was formally described, as the sole member of the new genus Harryplax. Mendoza and Ng named this species after the character Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series. The significance of this reference lies in that, like the crab being able to elude rediscovery for nearly two decades after it was originally found, Severus Snape was able to hide one of the most important secrets of the story for years. The name of the corresponding genus, Harryplax, was given as a tribute to Harry Conely, the ex-Marine whose work led to the rediscovery and classification of this species.

References

    1. Mendoza JCE, Ng PKL (2017) “Harryplax severus, a new genus and species of an unusual coral rubble-inhabiting crab from Guam (Crustacea, Brachyura, Christmaplacidae)” Zookeys, 647: 23–35.

    2. Greshko, Michael (23 January 2017). "Pale, Beady-Eyed Crab Named for Harry Potter". National Geographic News.

    3. Schenk, S. C., & Wainwright, P. C. (2001). Dimorphism and the functional basis of claw strength in six brachyuran crabs. Journal of Zoology, 255(1), 105-119.

    4. Faul, K. L., Ravelo, A. C., & Delaney, M. L. (2000). Reconstructions of upwelling, productivity, and photic zone depth in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean using planktonic foraminiferal stable isotopes and abundances. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 30(2), 110-125.

    5. Tracy L. Buck; Greg A. Breed; Steven C. Pennings; Margo E. Chase; Martin Zimmer; Thomas H. Carefoot (2003). "Diet choice in an omnivorous salt-marsh crab: different food types, body size, and habitat complexity". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 292 (1): 103–116.

    6. Peter K. L. Ng, Danièle Guinot & Peter J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286.

    7. Carrie E. Schweitzer (2003). "Utility of proxy characters for classification of fossils: an example from the fossil Xanthoidea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura)". Journal of Paleontology. 77 (6): 1107–1128.

    8. Sammy De Grave; N. Dean Pentcheff; Shane T. Ahyong; et al. (2009). "A classification of living and fossil genera of decapod crustaceans" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl. 21: 1–109.

    9. Naruse, Tohru; Ng, Peter K.L. (2014). "A new family, genus and species of cavernicolous crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pseudozioidea) from Christmas Island, Australia"(PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Supplement 30: 263–273.

    10. Davie, P. (2016). "Christmaplacidae Naruse & Ng, 2014". World Register of Marine Species.

    11. Naruse, Tohru; Ng, Peter K.L. (2014). "A new family, genus and species of cavernicolous crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pseudozioidea) from Christmas Island, Australia" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Supplement 30: 263–273.

    12. Geggle, Laurel (2017). “Accio Crab! Newfound Crab Honors Harry Potter and Professor Snape.” Live Science.

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