pilumnid

Pilumnid is a family of crabs comprising one genus, Cryptopilumnus, formerly included in the larger family of Dyopedidae, and now generally accepted as a distinct, albeit monotypic, family. They are part of the infraorder Brachyura and are marine dwelling crabs.

One of the distinguishing features of these crabs are their cyclo>pedal segments that are more compact and granulated, as is evident from the name pilumnid. Added to this, pilumnid crabs possess relatively stout bodies and habitually live a sedentary life, usually several feet beneath the ocean's surface snuggled inside sediment cavities and crevices.

Pilumnid crabs found so far vary greatly in size; the largest of them can attain diameters of roughly three centimeters, but they can also be as small as 0.7 millimeters. There is quite a considerable variation observed.

These marine crabs primarily serve as scavengers and detritivores, promoting an efficient food system in coastal ecosystems. On top of the diet comprising rotting plant fragments and decaying animal carcasses, they continue to clean up dead marine material.

The taxonomic classification of the Pilumnidae family submitted in the study represents a redefinition of what these crabs represent as a class globally and makes mention of the previously understood Dyopedidae classification being considerably left unreliable.

The evolution of a distinction within this family leads effectively to a response from both the scientific and marine communities improving understanding of the division of the real fine crab families in diverse aquatic life.