Polychaete-associate
Guides
Polyonyx gibbesi
eastern tube crab
Polyonyx gibbesi, commonly known as the eastern tube crab, is a porcelain crab in the family Porcellanidae. It is an obligate commensal species that inhabits the tubes of polychaete worms, particularly Chaetopterus species. The species has been studied for its physiological ecology, showing lower thermal tolerance compared to some co-occurring commensal crabs. It occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and Lesser Antilles.