Anemone spider crab (Inachus phalangium)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Inachus phalangium
- Common name
- Anemone spider crab
- Category
- Crustaceans
- Family
- Inachidae
- Genus
- Inachus
- Size
- 1–3 cm
- Depth
- 5–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, symbiotic, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Inachus phalangium reaches 3 cm carapace. Small spider crab (Inachidae) Mediterranean very particular living in exclusive commensalism with snakelocks anemone Anemonia viridis (already in base batch 7) among its venomous tentacles. Triangular carapace covered with algae and debris for perfect camouflage, long filiform legs. Immune to anemone cnidocytes. Very hard to spot without specific search. Lives from 5 to 50 m on rocky reefs of Mediterranean. Sought-after macro photo subject for unique symbiosis. Cousin of I. dorsettensis Atlantic.
Photo of Anemone spider crab
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Anemone spider crab?
- Anemone spider crab (Inachus phalangium) reaches 1–3 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Anemone spider crab?
- Anemone spider crab is found between 5–50 m deep.
- Is the Anemone spider crab dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Anemone spider crab?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Anemone spider crab?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Inachidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 107333)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 9524640)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia