Strange (Sea)Bedfellows - Observation of the Week, 11/8/22

Our Observation of the Week is this Urchin Carrier Crab (Dorippe frascone) carrying a Blue-spotted Urchin (Astropyga radiata)! Seen in The Philippines by @albertkang

Originally from Malaysia, Albert Kang has been living in The Philippines since 2002. In 2006 he stopped working and got into scuba diving, which reignited his long-held interest in nature. “Scuba diving,” he says, “opens up a whole new world of underwater marine life and was fascinated with it.”

When some friends from Belgium recently came to visit him, they went diving at Anilao, Batangas, Philippines, where Albert dives regularly.  “A Filipino friend owns a dive resort there and I go there very regularly and also bring friends from other countries to dive there :D,” he tells me.

Usually, this crab is only active at night but this dive was during a bad weather day and by 5 pm, it was already getting dark underwater.  The dive was at a muck dive site, meaning sandy bottom. The crab was scurrying around, carrying the sea urchin, which is always interesting to see since the crab by itself is drab in colour and not too interesting/exciting.  The bright colours of the sea urchin make it stand out, in addition to the interesting symbiotic relationship behaviour.

A small species (its carapace grows to about 5 cm (2 in)), the urchin carrier crab often uses its rear two pairs of legs to hold an urchin, leaving its two front non-pincer legs free for walking. It’s thought the urchin provides protection for a crab, and the crab brings it to new areas to feed, benefiting both partners.

“I am more of a generalist,” says Albert (above, taking a selfie with a Wallace’s Flying Frog in Malaysia), “meaning I take pictures of most things but more on the smaller stuff for macro photography. The joy is more of ‘searching’ and ‘finding’ tiny critters that are often overlooked and seldom photographed.” He joined iNat over seven years ago and tells me that after doing so  “I am spending more time out in the field to take pics and looking for new stuff.”


- Two phasmids have been described based Albert’s photos: Orthomeria kangi, from Philippines in 2016, and Orthonecroscia keatsooni from Malaysia in 2016. Albert tells me several more species are currently being described, based on his findings.

Cool footage of an urchin carrier crab and its buddy.

Posted on Νοέμβριος 08, 2022 0806 ΜΜ by tiwane tiwane

Σχόλια

That is really cool! It must be so fun to watch the colorful urchins being carried around by this crab. The Wallace’s Flying Frog is unreal, I thought it was a toy!

Αναρτήθηκε από maryah πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Great work Albert! Thank you for bringing these wonderful creatures to our attention!

Αναρτήθηκε από susanhewitt πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Everything is amazing. That urchin is beautiful, the symbiosis is great, the flying frog I swore was a stuffed animal, and the new-species-discovery is simply awesome. Great work.

Αναρτήθηκε από schizoform πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Just magnificent!!! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, @albertkang !

Also, if you watch that video at the end of this post, you'll notice the fish that are also using the urchin that the crab is utilizing! So phenomenal. :)

Αναρτήθηκε από sambiology πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Fantastic observation and photo, Albert!

Αναρτήθηκε από sullivanribbit πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

@albertkang Fantastic shot. Ken

Αναρτήθηκε από ken_flan πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Interesting find! I have a doubt that this sea urchin has any significant benefits, cause the first thing that surpise you when you see Astopyga is how fast this sea urhin could move! They could literally run pointing all the long spines directly on you!

So, I suppose that crab has very strong legs ;)

Αναρτήθηκε από krokozavr πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Thanks @maryah @susanhewitt @schizoform @sambiology @sullivanribbit @ken_flan for your kind words and appreciation :)

Αναρτήθηκε από albertkang πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

I’m still smiling!

Αναρτήθηκε από maryah πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

So amazing and comical !! Thank you for sharing @albertkang !!

Αναρτήθηκε από sunnetchan πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Amazing photo, thanks for sharing!

Αναρτήθηκε από damienevans πάνω από 1 χρόνo πριν

Great interview Albert! @albertkang always inspiring in nature

Αναρτήθηκε από mhamzars 6 μήνες πριν

@albertkang Thank-you for this great story/Observation, you are very lucky to see this & because of you we get to see it as well. All the best. Ken

Αναρτήθηκε από ken_flan 6 μήνες πριν

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