The subphylum Crustacea represents one of the most incredibly diverse, vibrant, and fascinating groups of marine animals a scuba diver can encounter. From the microscopic copepods that form the foundation of the ocean's food web to the formidable spiny lobsters defending the dark recesses of coral caves, crustaceans are the quintessential armour-plated knights of the underwater realm. Encompassing an astonishing variety of crabs, shrimps, lobsters, squat lobsters, and the formidable mantis shrimps, this massive group is defined by their rigid chitinous exoskeletons, jointed appendages, and highly specialised, segmented bodies. For the observant scuba diver, peering into the crevices of a coral reef or scanning the sandy bottom on a night dive reveals a hidden, bustling world of crustacean activity that is every bit as dramatic and complex as the lives of the larger vertebrates cruising overhead.
行動と繁殖
- サイズ
- 不明
- 体重
- 0.01 kg 〜 20 kg
- 寿命
- 1 〜 50 年, with some deep-sea and large lobster species living several decades
- 保全状況
- 未評価
Beyond cleaning stations, the crustacean world is rife with other forms of symbiosis. Anemone shrimps and porcelain crabs have evolved protective immunities to the stinging tentacles of host sea anemones, sharing their protective homes with clownfish in exchange for scraps of food. Perhaps most charming is the mutualistic partnership between various species of snapping shrimp (also known as pistol shrimp) and cryptobenthic goby fish. The nearly blind shrimp acts as the tireless excavator, continuously bulldozing sand out of a shared burrow. The goby, possessing excellent eyesight, acts as the sentry, resting at the entrance of the burrow. The shrimp maintains physical contact with the goby using its antennae; if a predator approaches, the goby gives a sharp flick of its tail, sending both partners darting into the safety of their underground fortress, a behaviour that delights divers who take the time to observe the sandy sea floor.