Dissodactylus mellitae

(Rathbun, 1900)

Sand Dollar Pea Crab, sand-dollar pea crab

Dissodactylus mellitae is a small pea crab in the Pinnotheridae that lives as an obligate on sand dollars. It inhabits the western Atlantic Ocean and has been documented specifically on the Mellita quinquiesperforata. The exhibits a close association with its echinoderm host, living on the aboral surface.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dissodactylus mellitae: /ˌdɪsəˈdæktɪləs ˈmɛlɪti/

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Habitat

Marine sandy substrates; found on the aboral surface of sand dollars (Mellita quinquiesperforata) in shallow coastal waters.

Distribution

Western Atlantic Ocean.

Host Associations

Mellita quinquiesperforata - obligate Lives on the aboral surface of this sand dollar

Similar Taxa

Dissodactylus xantusiBoth are pea crabs in the same ; D. xantusi is a Pacific with four zoeal stages, whereas Atlantic Dissodactylus species including D. mellitae have been reported to have three zoeal stages
Dissodactylus lockingtoniBoth are pea crabs in the same ; D. lockingtoni is a Pacific sympatric with D. xantusi, while D. mellitae occurs in the Atlantic

More Details

Larval development comparison

Based on comparative studies of Dissodactylus , Atlantic species with known larval development (including D. mellitae) have three zoeal stages before to megalopa, whereas Pacific species such as D. xantusi and D. lockingtoni have four zoeal stages. D. mellitae is grouped with other 'large-palped' species (D. crinitichelis, D. nitidus, D. primitivus) based on .