Benthic Crustaceans
191
symbionts to various large reef animals and, primarily, to the corals
themselves (Patton 1976; Bruce 1976). The reef shrimps belong mainly to
the super-families Stenopodidea, Caridea and Thalassinidea. Stenopodids or
the coral shrimps Stenopus, Microprosthema, Odontozona are very colorful.
Some of them are commensals to actinians and corals. Caridean shrimps are
extremely widespread, being an important component of the vagile benthic
fauna as well as commensals to various animals: corals, hydroids, sponges,
urchins, actinians, and ascidians. They belong mostly to the families
Alpheidae and Hyppolithidae. Most of the free-living shrimps are crude
filterers or detritophages. The ghost-shrimps thalassinds (genera Axius,
Scytolep th us , Callinassa) live in holes which they dig out in the soft
sediments. The species composition of shrimp communities varied in
different reef zones. On the outer reef slope they are rare. Near the reef
edge, the shrimps Brachycarpus and Odontozona are numerous. The
shallows of reef flats are inhabited by shrimps and prawns from the families
Pontionidae, Hyppolithidae and from the genera Anthanas and
Periclemenes. The shallow parts of lagoons, covered with seagrass, are
occupied by the shrimps Alpheus, Hyppolite, Thor, Saron, and the coastal
beach sands by Pontophilus, Leptochela, and Metapenacapsis. The shrimps
Alpheus and Callinassa build permanent holes in sand, cementing their walls
with their saliva. The shrimp fauna of lagoon bottom biotopes includes
commensals and symbionts of corals, alcyonaceans and sponges, as well as
the free-living large detritovores Alpheus, Benaeus, Metapaenopsis,
Heteropaenopsis, which are an important object of fishery (Bruce 1976).
Reef lobsters (genus Palinurus) are large nocturnal decapods which hide
during the daytime in holes and trenches of flats and outer reef slopes. This
genus of spiny and rock lobsters includes 5-7 species. Most common of
them are P. ornatus, P. versicolor, and P. penicillatus. The last two are
objects of intensive fishery (George 1974).
The reef crabs belong to the subfamilies Anomura (hermit crabs) and
Brachyura (real crabs). The hermit crabs and related genera of Anomura
are extremely widespread in all reef biotopes. The real hermit crabs (family
Paguridae) live in abandoned shells of gastropods. They are especially
abundant in benthic communities of reef flats and littorals. Most hermit
crabs are active only at night, hiding in the daytime under stones. All real
hermit crabs are predators feeding on polychaetes and molluscs (Thomassin
1974). The crabs Calli nus and Trizopagurus live under the corals and feed
on their polyps (Gillhurst 1985). Thus, they damage the tips of their
branches. The mass species of pagurid hermit crabs are: Calcinus,
Dardanus, Clibanarus, Diogenes, Pagurus, Paguristes, Coenobita, Burgus,
and Paguritta. Another three families of anomuran crabs related to hermits
are: Hippidae, Galatheidae and Porcellanidae. Among them there are the
free-living small crabs phytophages and detritophages. Some of them are the
commensals of corals (Allogalathea).
191
symbionts to various large reef animals and, primarily, to the corals
themselves (Patton 1976; Bruce 1976). The reef shrimps belong mainly to
the super-families Stenopodidea, Caridea and Thalassinidea. Stenopodids or
the coral shrimps Stenopus, Microprosthema, Odontozona are very colorful.
Some of them are commensals to actinians and corals. Caridean shrimps are
extremely widespread, being an important component of the vagile benthic
fauna as well as commensals to various animals: corals, hydroids, sponges,
urchins, actinians, and ascidians. They belong mostly to the families
Alpheidae and Hyppolithidae. Most of the free-living shrimps are crude
filterers or detritophages. The ghost-shrimps thalassinds (genera Axius,
Scytolep th us , Callinassa) live in holes which they dig out in the soft
sediments. The species composition of shrimp communities varied in
different reef zones. On the outer reef slope they are rare. Near the reef
edge, the shrimps Brachycarpus and Odontozona are numerous. The
shallows of reef flats are inhabited by shrimps and prawns from the families
Pontionidae, Hyppolithidae and from the genera Anthanas and
Periclemenes. The shallow parts of lagoons, covered with seagrass, are
occupied by the shrimps Alpheus, Hyppolite, Thor, Saron, and the coastal
beach sands by Pontophilus, Leptochela, and Metapenacapsis. The shrimps
Alpheus and Callinassa build permanent holes in sand, cementing their walls
with their saliva. The shrimp fauna of lagoon bottom biotopes includes
commensals and symbionts of corals, alcyonaceans and sponges, as well as
the free-living large detritovores Alpheus, Benaeus, Metapaenopsis,
Heteropaenopsis, which are an important object of fishery (Bruce 1976).
Reef lobsters (genus Palinurus) are large nocturnal decapods which hide
during the daytime in holes and trenches of flats and outer reef slopes. This
genus of spiny and rock lobsters includes 5-7 species. Most common of
them are P. ornatus, P. versicolor, and P. penicillatus. The last two are
objects of intensive fishery (George 1974).
The reef crabs belong to the subfamilies Anomura (hermit crabs) and
Brachyura (real crabs). The hermit crabs and related genera of Anomura
are extremely widespread in all reef biotopes. The real hermit crabs (family
Paguridae) live in abandoned shells of gastropods. They are especially
abundant in benthic communities of reef flats and littorals. Most hermit
crabs are active only at night, hiding in the daytime under stones. All real
hermit crabs are predators feeding on polychaetes and molluscs (Thomassin
1974). The crabs Calli nus and Trizopagurus live under the corals and feed
on their polyps (Gillhurst 1985). Thus, they damage the tips of their
branches. The mass species of pagurid hermit crabs are: Calcinus,
Dardanus, Clibanarus, Diogenes, Pagurus, Paguristes, Coenobita, Burgus,
and Paguritta. Another three families of anomuran crabs related to hermits
are: Hippidae, Galatheidae and Porcellanidae. Among them there are the
free-living small crabs phytophages and detritophages. Some of them are the
commensals of corals (Allogalathea).