Scyllaridae

Scyllaridae is a family of crabs that belong to the infraorder Brachyura. They are commonly known as hermit crabs due to their habit of inhabiting empty shells of gastropod mollusks. The family includes over 200 species, which are distributed worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions. Scyllaridae crabs are characterized by their elongated bodies, which are adapted for burrowing and crawling. They have a pair of large, flat claws that they use for defense and digging. The family is further divided into several genera, including Scyllarus, which is one of the most well-known genera, and Pagurus, which includes the sand crab. Scyllaridae crabs play an important role in marine ecosystems as both predators and prey. They are also of economic significance, as some species are harvested for food and others are kept as pets. The taxonomy of Scyllaridae is still a subject of ongoing research, with new species and genera being described regularly.