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Zebra crabs Zebrida spp.
Found from Japan to south-west Australia these beautiful little crabs Zebra crabs Zebrida spp. are commensal on various species of Sea Urchins and although not rare, are not always easy to find. There are three species known from Australia and although the Zoological Catalogue of Australia shows no identity of any hosts, we can clear up the mystery for them here.
They appear to be a dependant associate of their hosts and are not found to live anywhere else. Females appear to be larger than males (sexual dimorphism) and there is generally a male and female present. The ends of their back legs are hooked so they can cling onto the Sea Urchins spines.
First named in 1847, the original Adam's Zebra Crab Zebrida adamsi was, for many years, thought to be the only species. This specimen is from Kashiwajima in Japan. It was found to be living on the venomous Flower Urchin Toxopneustes pileolus in 5 metres of water.
(Photo Neville Coleman)
First named in 1847, the original Adam's Zebra Crab Zebrida adamsi was, for many years, thought to be the only species. This specimen is from Kashiwajima in Japan. It was found to be living on the venomous Flower Urchin Toxopneustes pileolus in 5 metres of water.
(Photo Neville Coleman)
Discovered at 25 metres on a night dive off Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia this Long-spined Zebra Crab Zebrida longispina was living on the venomous sea urchin Asthenosoma varium.
(Photo Neville Coleman)
This picture was the first published of a new species I found off Fremantle, Western Australia in 1/1972. Since then it has been described (1999) and is known today as the Short-keeled Zebra Crab Zebrida brevicarinata. It lives on the Common Sea Urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma in the shallow waters of Cockburn Sound, Western Australia.
(Photo Neville Coleman)