Lybia edmondsoni
| Lybia edmondsoni | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Xanthidae |
| Genus: | Lybia |
| Species: | L. edmondsoni |
| Binomial name | |
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Lybia edmondsoni Takeda & Miyake, 1970 |
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Lybia edmondsoni is a species of small crab in the family Xanthidae and is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Like other members of the genus Lybia, it is commonly known as the pom-pom crab or boxer crab because of its habit of carrying a sea anemone around in each of its claws, these resembling pom-poms or boxing gloves. Its Hawaiian name is kūmimi pua, meaning "inedible flower crab". In ancient times, this animal was used by men claiming to be sorcerers.
The carapace of Lybia edmondsoni can reach 0.5 inches (13 mm) in width. It sports unusual polygonal patterns in pink, brown or yellow. The chelipeds are not heavily armoured as in most crab species but are fine and delicate, the propodal-carpal joint being very flexible, and there are several backward-pointing spines. The walking legs are banded in dark purple. On its favorite substrates, such as thin sand or rubble, the crab is almost invisible.
The common name "pom-pom crab" comes from its symbiotic practice of brandishing a stinging sea anemone (usually Triactis producta) in each claw to defend against predators and possibly to stun prey. Its alternative common name, "boxer crab", comes from its pugnacious response to threats.
Lybia edmondsoni is endemic to Hawaii but is very similar in its size and behavior to its sister species, Lybia tessellata, which is much more widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Lybia edmondsoni is found in shallow water, down to a depth of about 20 m (66 ft), and hides under rocks or among coral debris. It is also found on sandy and gravelly flats, where it is well camouflaged, and on live corals where it clings with its long, slender legs.
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