Dromiidae is a family of crabs, often referred to as sponge crabs. They are small or medium-sized crabs which get their name from the ability to shape a living sponge into a portable shelter for themselves.[2] A sponge crab cuts out a fragment from a sponge and trims it to its own shape using its claws. The last two pairs of legs are shorter than other legs and bend upward over the crab's carapace, to hold the sponge in place. The sponge grows along with the crab, providing a consistent shelter.[2]
The family Dromiidae contains the following subfamilies and genera:[1]
Dromiidae is a family of crabs, often referred to as sponge crabs. They are small or medium-sized crabs which get their name from the ability to shape a living sponge into a portable shelter for themselves. A sponge crab cuts out a fragment from a sponge and trims it to its own shape using its claws. The last two pairs of legs are shorter than other legs and bend upward over the crab's carapace, to hold the sponge in place. The sponge grows along with the crab, providing a consistent shelter.
The family Dromiidae contains the following subfamilies and genera:
Dromiinae De Haan, 1833 Alainodromia McLay, 1998 Ameridromia † Blow & Manning, 1996 Ascidiophilus Richters, 1880 Austrodromidia McLay, 1993 Barnardomia McLay, 1993 Conchoecetes Stimpson, 1858 Costadromia † Feldman and Schweitzer, 2019 Cryptodromia Stimpson, 1858 Cryptodromiopsis Borradaile, 1903 Desmodromia McLay, 2001 Dromia Weber, 1795 Dromidia Stimpson, 1858 Dromidiopsis Borradaile, 1900 Dromilites † H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 Epigodromia McLay, 1993 Epipedodromia André, 1932 Eudromidia Barnard, 1947 Exodromidia Stebbing, 1905 Foredromia McLay, 2002 Fultodromia McLay, 1993 Haledromia McLay, 1993 Hemisphaerodromia Barnard, 1954 Homalodromia Miers, 1884 Kerepesia † Müller, 1976 Kromtitis † Müller, 1984 Lamarckdromia Guinot & Tavares, 2003 Lamarckdromia beagle McLay, 2022 Lauridromia McLay, 1993 Lewindromia Guinot & Tavares, 2003 Lucanthonisia † Van Bakel, Artal, Fraaije & Jagt, 2009 Mclaydromia Guinot & Tavares, 2003 Metadromia McLay, 2009 Moreiradromia Guinot & Tavares, 2003 Noetlingia † Beurlen, 1928 Paradromia Balss, 1921 Petalomera Stimpson, 1858 Platydromia Brocchi, 1877 Pseudodromia Stimpson, 1858d Speodromia Barnard, 1947 Stebbingdromia Guinot & Tavares, 2003 Sternodromia Forest, 1974 Stimdromia McLay, 1993 Takedromia McLay, 1993 Tumidodromia McLay, 2009 Tunedromia McLay, 1993 Hypoconchinae Guinot & Tavares, 2003 Hypoconcha Guérin-Méneville, 1854 Sphaerodromiinae Guinot & Tavares, 2003 Eodromia McLay, 1993 Frodromia McLay, 1993 Sphaerodromia Alcock, 1899
