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Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Anomurans > Family Porcellanidae
Commensal porcelain crab
awaiting identification*
Family Porcellanidae
updated Dec 2019
Where seen? This tiny porcelain crab is sometimes seen, on other animals such as hard and soft corals, as well as on seaweeds and coral rubble. Sometimes seen in groups of many animals. It is probably quite common but overlooked because it looks like bits of dirt!

Features: Body width less than 1cm. Some have a hairy body and pincers. Others are smooth.

Different species of porcelain crabs probably match this description. Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination. On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

The Painted porcelain crab (Porcellanella triloba) that lives in sea pens has a separate fact sheet.

In branching hard coral.
Sentosa, Jun 07

On pink flowery soft coral.
Beting Bronok, Jun 06

On a sponge.
Pulau Sekudu, Jun 05

Changi, May 06
On pink flowery soft coral.

Beting Bronok, Jun 06
In ball flowery soft coral.

Cyrene Reef, Jul 11
In asparagus flowery soft coral .

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Commensal porcelain crabs on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


O
n an ascidian.
Punggol, Sep 14
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

On hard coral.
Sisters Island, Dec 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.
 


On a sponge.
Chek Jawa, Jul 16
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.
 
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