Johnny Braun, Luxemburg
Info
Amphithrax hemphilli (Rathbun, 1892)
The type locality for describing the spider crab is Indian Key, Florida. Size of the largest male: width 32 mm, width 34 mm; largest female: width 32 mm, width 36 mm.
Amphithrax hemphilli is a fairly common species in hard bottom communities throughout its range and occurs from the intertidal edge to a depth of 60 m. It can be found in numerous habitats such as coral and stone reefs, sandy reefs of Hragmatopoma caudata, calcareous algae, dead corals, but also coral rubble, limestone rubble and even Thalassia layers on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
A young female was found in Trindade eating a lime sponge and the hard coral Favia sp. associated. Juveniles and adults are often found with pieces of sponge and organic debris mixed with mineral fragments on the carapace and walking legs. Young specimens in particular are often heavily decorated with sponges.
The shape, the type of tubercles and the type/sharpness of the armored spines vary considerably in Amphithrax hemphilli. The proportions and spines of the shell vary depending on growth and development. Juvenile and immature specimens are usually much longer than they are wide and the carapace decoration is very different from that of adult specimens. Juveniles have much longer and sharp spines, which are also provided with thorns. The orbital spines are long and sharp in young animals, but become short and blunt as they age.
The larval development of Amphithrax hemphilli consists of two zoea stages and a megalopa. Amphithrax hemphilli exhibits morphological features at all stages of larval development that differ from those of other Amphithrax, Mithrax and Maguimithrax species.
Predators of the spider crab include the red grouper Epinephelus morio and Octopus vulgaris.
Synonymised names
Mithrax hemphilli Rathbun, 1892 · unaccepted > superseded combination
The type locality for describing the spider crab is Indian Key, Florida. Size of the largest male: width 32 mm, width 34 mm; largest female: width 32 mm, width 36 mm.
Amphithrax hemphilli is a fairly common species in hard bottom communities throughout its range and occurs from the intertidal edge to a depth of 60 m. It can be found in numerous habitats such as coral and stone reefs, sandy reefs of Hragmatopoma caudata, calcareous algae, dead corals, but also coral rubble, limestone rubble and even Thalassia layers on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
A young female was found in Trindade eating a lime sponge and the hard coral Favia sp. associated. Juveniles and adults are often found with pieces of sponge and organic debris mixed with mineral fragments on the carapace and walking legs. Young specimens in particular are often heavily decorated with sponges.
The shape, the type of tubercles and the type/sharpness of the armored spines vary considerably in Amphithrax hemphilli. The proportions and spines of the shell vary depending on growth and development. Juvenile and immature specimens are usually much longer than they are wide and the carapace decoration is very different from that of adult specimens. Juveniles have much longer and sharp spines, which are also provided with thorns. The orbital spines are long and sharp in young animals, but become short and blunt as they age.
The larval development of Amphithrax hemphilli consists of two zoea stages and a megalopa. Amphithrax hemphilli exhibits morphological features at all stages of larval development that differ from those of other Amphithrax, Mithrax and Maguimithrax species.
Predators of the spider crab include the red grouper Epinephelus morio and Octopus vulgaris.
Synonymised names
Mithrax hemphilli Rathbun, 1892 · unaccepted > superseded combination
