Lybia tessellata, sometimes called the pom pom crab, is a rather small species that carries a juvenile sea anemone, usually Triactis producta, in each of its pincers. It has been suggested that these anemones can be used either for defense or for feeding. Defensively, anemones have stinging cells, and when exposed this crab can be seen to wave its anemones like a pair of chearleader pom poms above itself, possibly to ward off predatory fish. They have also been observed to sweep the anemones along the substrate, possibly picking up food with the sticky tentacles. These are rather common under rocks on shallow lagoon reefs and on some pinnacles.
Carrying orange eggs.
Created 14 September 2018