Orange Coral Gall Crab

Cryptochiridae

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Cryptochiridae

The orange coral gall crab is a tiny orange crab from the coral gall crab family that lives in a pit inside living stony coral. Its warm colour can make it stand out against paler coral, though it rarely ventures beyond its doorway.

Only a few millimetres long, the female lives permanently in the dwelling formed as the coral grows around her, feeding on mucus and particles in the water. Like several coral gall crabs seen by divers, it has not been identified to species.

This crab is found on reefs in the Philippines. Look for small openings in coral heads and, with a torch and macro lens, you may see a bright orange crab looking back.