Yellow Spotted Guard Crab

These are awesome. Almost every branched coral had at least one resident guard crab. This coral is Antler Coral (Trapezia flavopunctata), I think. Apparently the guard crabs feed on some particularly juicy bits the coral produces near the base of its antlers, and the crab defends the coral from predatory sea stars.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.

All Biocode files are based on field identifications to the best of the researcher’s ability at the time.