Sponge Crab, Edithburgh South Australia

It is wonderful and often surprising the events which unfold when you ask questions! In this case the question was 'what crab is that?' At first I thought through photo's on the web that this little guy was called Cryptodromia octodetata. I then discovered that the scientists decided back in 2003 that they got the genus wrong and renamed him Austrodromidia octodentata. Either way, 'Sponge Crab' will do nicely.

In the process of asking 'what crab is that?', I stumbled upon Google Book Search and found this awesome book dedicated to Southern Australian crabs,

'Marine Decapod Crustacea of Southern Australia By Gary C. B. Poore, Shane T. Ahyong, CSIRO'.

Just click on this link to browse the actual book on-line. Very cool!

Keep an eye out for this guy next time you dive. If you see one she will probably be adorned with a huge sponge or ascidian cap. If you are really lucky you might find her brooding a clutch of live young too!


Until the next post, take care out there and keep diving ( if that's what you do! ) ...Robert

Photo: Robert Rath C7070WZ 1/45s at f/4 ISO100, Lens Inon UCL165AD Macro Lens, Natural Light