Munidopsis polymorpha

Munidopsis polymorpha
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Anomura
Family: Munidopsidae
Genus: Munidopsis
Species:
M. polymorpha
Binomial name
Munidopsis polymorpha
Koelbel, 1892

Munidopsis polymorpha is a species of squat lobster (also known as the blind albino cave crab, Jameos blind crab or jameito) that is endemic to Lanzarote, Canary Islands. They are small, blind and pale, and can be found in the caves of Jameos del Agua, in lava tubes formed by volcanic eruptions 15,000 - 13,000 years ago.[1] Ovigerous females carry only two eggs which are relatively big in contrast to the numerous small eggs in other anomuran crustaceans.[2] It is the animal symbol of the island of Lanzarote.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Horst Wilkens, Jakob Parzefal & Thomas Iliffe (2001). "Origin and age of the marine stygofauna of Lanzarote, Canary Islands" (PDF). Mitteilungen aus dem Hamburgischen Zoologischen Museum und Institut. 83: 223–230.
  2. ^ Jonas Keiler, Stefan Richter & Christian S. Wirkner (2015). "Evolutionary morphology of the organ systems in squat lobsters and porcelain crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomala): An insight into carcinization". Journal of Morphology. 276: 1–21. doi:10.1002/jmor.20311. PMID 25156549.
  3. ^ Símbolos de la naturaleza para las Islas Canarias [Natural Symbols for the Canary Islands] (Ley 7/1991) (in Spanish). Vol. 151. 30 April 1991. pp. 20946–20497 – via BOE.


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