Common name: Decapods
Decapods, belonging to the order Decapoda, are a diverse group of crustaceans that include familiar species such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and prawns. These creatures are characterized by their ten limbs, which is a defining feature of the order. Decapods are found in a variety of aquatic environments, ranging from freshwater to marine ecosystems, and they play essential roles in their habitats as scavengers, predators, and prey.
In the context of reefkeeping, decapods are popular additions to saltwater aquariums due to their fascinating behaviors and important ecological roles. Many species are known for their vibrant colors and interesting patterns, which can add aesthetic value to an aquarium. For example, cleaner shrimp, a type of decapod, engage in symbiotic relationships with fish by removing parasites from their scales, providing both a cleaning service for the fish and a source of food for themselves.
When keeping decapods in an aquarium, it is crucial to consider their specific needs, such as water quality, temperature, and dietary requirements. Some decapods, like certain species of crabs, may exhibit aggressive behavior and could pose a threat to other tank inhabitants. Therefore, careful selection and compatibility assessment with other species in the tank are important.
Decapods have complex life cycles and often undergo several larval stages before reaching adulthood. This can be a challenge for breeding in captivity, but it also presents an opportunity for hobbyists interested in marine biology to observe these fascinating processes. Overall, decapods are a captivating and diverse group that can enhance the biodiversity and visual appeal of a marine aquarium.
- Common name: Orangutan CrabScientific name: Achaeus japonicus
- Common name: Elegant Crinoid Squat LobsterScientific name: Allogalathea elegans
- Common name: brown snapping shrimpScientific name: Alpheus armatus
- Common name: Beautiful goby shrimpScientific name: Alpheus bellulus
- Common name: red snapping shrimpScientific name: Alpheus bisincisus
- Common name: Djeddah snapping shrimpScientific name: Alpheus djeddensis
- Common name: Immaculate Pistol ShrimpScientific name: Alpheus immaculatus
- Common name: fine-striped snapping shrimpScientific name: Alpheus ochrostriatus
- Common name: Pacific Pistol ShrimpScientific name: Alpheus pacificus
- Common name: Randall's Pistol ShrimpScientific name: Alpheus randalli
- Common name: Red-spotted Pistol ShrimpScientific name: Alpheus rubromaculatus
- Common name: Twin Snapping ShrimpScientific name: Alpheus soror
- Common name: Holthuis' ShrimpScientific name: Ancylomenes holthuisi
- Common name: Sarasvati Anemone ShrimpScientific name: Ancylomenes sarasvati
- Common name: Regal Slipper lobsterScientific name: Arctides regalis
- Common name: Red-leg Hermit CrabScientific name: Calcinus californiensis
- Common name: Electric Blue Hermit CrabScientific name: Calcinus elegans
- Common name: Left-handed Hermit CrabScientific name: Calcinus laevimanus
- Common name: Orangeclaw Hermit CrabScientific name: Calcinus tibicen
- Common name: Decorator CrabScientific name: Camposcia retusa
- Common name: Convex Reef CrabScientific name: Carpilius convexus
- Common name: Seven-eleven CrabScientific name: Carpilius maculatus
- Common name: Squat LobsterScientific name: Chirostylus dolichopus
- Common name: Halloween Hermit CrabScientific name: Ciliopagurus strigatus
- Common name: Henderson's hinge-beak shrimpScientific name: Cinetorhynchus hendersoni
- Common name: Manning hingebeakScientific name: Cinetorhynchus manningi
- Common name: reticulated hingebeakScientific name: Cinetorhynchus reticulatus
- Common name: Dwarf Red Tip Hermit CrabScientific name: Clibanarius digueti
- Common name: Orange-red Hermit CrabScientific name: Clibanarius rutilus
- Common name: Blue-legged Hermit CrabScientific name: Clibanarius tricolor
- Common name: Corallimorph Decorator CrabScientific name: Cyclocoeloma tuberculatum
- Common name: Blue Knee Hermit CrabScientific name: Dardanus guttatus
- Common name: Dark Knee Hermit CrabScientific name: Dardanus lagopodes
- Common name: White-spotted Hermit CrabScientific name: Dardanus megistos
- Common name: Anemone Hermit CrabScientific name: Dardanus pedunculatus
- Common name: Horned Sea Pen ShrimpScientific name: Dasycaris ceratops
- Common name: Zanzibar Whip Coral ShrimpScientific name: Dasycaris zanzibarica
- Common name: Debelius' Reef LobsterScientific name: Enoplometopus debelius
- Common name: Bullseye Reef LobsterScientific name: Enoplometopus holthuisi
- Common name: Red Reef LobsterScientific name: Enoplometopus occidentalis
- Common name: Striped Bumblebee ShrimpScientific name: Gnathophyllum americanum
- Common name: coral shrimpScientific name: Hamodactylus boschmai
- Common name: Sexy ShrimpScientific name: Hamodactylus noumeae
- Common name: Mushroom coral shrimpScientific name: Hamopontonia corallicola
- Common name: Calico Box CrabScientific name: Hepatus epheliticus
- Common name: Soft Coral CrabScientific name: Hoplophrys oatesii
- Common name: harlequin shrimpScientific name: Hymenocera picta
- Common name: Leach's Spider CrabScientific name: Inachus phalangium
- Common name: Variable crinoid shrimpScientific name: Laomenes ceratophthalmus
- Common name: Harlequin ShrimpScientific name: Laomenes cornutus
- Common name: Banded Arrow CrabScientific name: Latreillia valida
- Common name: Hairy Squat LobsterScientific name: Lauriea siagiani
- Common name: Plume shrimpScientific name: Leander plumosus
- Common name: Harlequin Swimming CrabScientific name: Lissocarcinus laevis
- Common name: Sea Cucumber Swimming CrabScientific name: Lissocarcinus orbicularis
- Common name: Pom-pom CrabScientific name: Lybia tessellata
- Common name: Skunk Cleaner ShrimpScientific name: Lysmata amboinensis
- Common name: Anker's Pistol ShrimpScientific name: Lysmata ankeri
- Common name: Peppermint ShrimpScientific name: Lysmata bahia
- Common name: Peppermint ShrimpScientific name: Lysmata boggessi
- Common name: lined shrimpScientific name: Lysmata californica
- Common name: scarlet cleaner shrimpScientific name: Lysmata debelius
- Common name: cleaner shrimpScientific name: Lysmata grabhami
- Common name: peppermint shrimpScientific name: Lysmata wurdemanni
- Common name: Red Sea Feather StarScientific name: Manucomplanus varians
- Common name: Dragon shrimpScientific name: Miropandalus hardingi
- Common name: Nodose Clinging CrabScientific name: Mithraculus coryphe
- Common name: Emerald CrabScientific name: Mithraculus sculptus
- Common name: Bull Hydroid CrabScientific name: Naxioides taurus
- Common name: Spotted Porcelain CrabScientific name: Neopetrolisthes maculates
- Common name: Red Reef Hermit CrabScientific name: Paguristes cadenati
- Common name: Common Hermit CrabScientific name: Pagurus bernhardus
- Common name: Stripe-leg spiny lobsterScientific name: Panulirus femoristriga
- Common name: California spiny lobsterScientific name: Panulirus interruptus
- Common name: ornate spiny lobsterScientific name: Panulirus ornatus
- Common name: pronghorn spiny lobsterScientific name: Panulirus penicillatus
- Common name: slipper lobsterScientific name: Panulirus versicolor
- Common name: sugarcane shrimpScientific name: Parhippolyte uveae
- Common name: sculptured mitten lobsterScientific name: Parribacus antarcticus
- Common name: Sally Lightfoot CrabScientific name: Percnon gibbesi
- Common name: Flat Rock CrabScientific name: Percnon planissimum
- Common name: ambon crinoid shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes amboinensis
- Common name: pacific clown anemone shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes brevicarpalis
- Common name: Brock's Anemone ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes brockii
- Common name: Coleman ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes colemani
- Common name: hydroid shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes galene
- Common name: Holthuis' ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes holthuisi
- Common name: emperor shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes imperator
- Common name: Koror Anemone ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes kororensis
- Common name: Harlequin ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes lanipes
- Common name: Long-arm Cleaner ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes longicarpus
- Common name: Magnificent ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes magnificus
- Common name: Pederson cleaner shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes pedersoni
- Common name: translucent gorgonian shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes psamathe
- Common name: Emperor ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes rex
- Common name: Sea Star ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes soror
- Common name: Glass shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes tenuipes
- Common name: Glass Anemone ShrimpScientific name: Periclimenes tenuis
- Common name: Periclimenes sarasvatiScientific name: Periclimenes tosaensis
- Common name: graceful anemone shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes venustus
- Common name: spotted cleaner shrimpScientific name: Periclimenes yucatanicus
- Common name: Banded Porcelain CrabScientific name: Petrolisthes galathinus
- Common name: red-striped hermitScientific name: Phimochirus holthuisi
- Common name: polkadotted hermitScientific name: Phimochirus operculatus
- Common name: bongo shrimpScientific name: Phyllognathia ceratophthalma
- Common name: bristly crabScientific name: Pilumnus hirtellus
- Common name: Pliopontonia furtivaScientific name: Pliopontonia furtiva
- Common name: wire coral shrimpScientific name: Pontonides unciger
- Common name: Haig's Porcelain CrabScientific name: Porcellanella haigae
- Common name: Three-lobed Porcelain CrabScientific name: Porcellanella triloba
- Common name: Durban Hinge-Beak ShrimpScientific name: Rhynchocinetes durbanensis
- Common name: Red Camel ShrimpScientific name: Rhynchocinetes uritai
- Common name: Hairy Urchin ShrimpScientific name: Sandimenes hirsutus
- Common name: Marbled ShrimpScientific name: Saron marmoratus
- Common name: eyespot shrimpScientific name: Saron neglectus
- Common name: Common Decorator CrabScientific name: Schizophrys aspera
- Common name: Mediterranean Slipper LobsterScientific name: Scyllarides latus
- Common name: ridged slipper lobsterScientific name: Scyllarides nodifer
- Common name: blunt locust lobsterScientific name: Scyllarides squammosus
- Common name: small European locust lobsterScientific name: Scyllarus arctus