Crabs – Alphabetical Summary of Family With Photographs:
Aethridae: Box Crabs (1):
Brachyuran Family of True Crabs (1): This Calappidae Family of Box Crabs has 9 genera made up from 86 species, of which several are fossils found in sediments from the paleogene period indicating a long evolutionary history. Box Crabs are characterized by their boxy carapace shape usually being rectangular and flat as apposed to the typical round or oval shape of other crab species. Their flat rectangular body allow them to bury themselves in the sand or mud more completely allowing them to hid from predators or ambush prey using their large powerful claws as defense against predators or to capture and control prey and their right chelae often has a smooth tooth used for peeling gastropods, Their claws are asymmetrical with one larger than the other. Cancridae Family of Rock Crabs (2):
Diogenidae Family of Hermit Crabs (7): Decorator Crab of the Dromiidae Family (1)
Epialtidae: Decorator Crabs (3):
Gecarcinidae Family of Land and Terrestial Crabs (2):
Grapsidae: Shore Crabs (5): Hippidae: Mole Crabs (2) Inachidae Family of Arrow Crabs (1): Leucosiidae Family of Purse Crabs (1) Limulidae: Horseshoe Crabs (1):
Majidae Family of Spider Crabs (5): Octopodidae: Ghost and Fiddler Crabs (2): Parthenopidae: Elbow Crabs (1):
Portuinidae Family of Swimming Crabs (4):
Raninidae Family of Frog Crabs (1):
Xanthidae Family of Gorilla Crabs, Mud Crabs and Pebble Crabs (1): Calappidae Family of Box Crabs (5):
Mexican Spider Crab, Libinia mexicana
Robust Swim Crab, Euphylax robustus
