Physical Description
Clibanarius corallinus has a relatively small size (mean carapace length of 24 mm in full grown adults found on Heron Island, Queensland, Australia; n=25) and is characterized by its reddish-brown carapace with three pale yellow, longitudinal stripes on posterior of carapace (Image 1). Oscular peduncle is slightly longer than antennal peduncle and is reddish-brown in colour dorsally, orange in colour ventrally and laterally (Image 2). The cornea of Clibanarius corallinus is blue in colour (Image 2). Antennal peduncle is reddish-brown proximal to carapace, becomes orange when connected to pale orange antenna (image 3). See anatomical terms in Image 4.
Image 1: Three pale yellow, longitudinal stripes on posterior of reddish-brown carapace of Clibanarius corallinus
Image 2: Blue cornea and dorsally reddish-brown, ventrally and laterally orange oscular peduncle in Clibanarius corallinus
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Image 3: Reddish-brown antennal peduncle becomes orange distally from carapace and connected to pale orange antenna in Clibanarius corallinus
Image 4: Labelled diagram of external features of Clibanarius corallinus. See annotations below. (labels added to an image adopted from Boone 1935)
Antenna: longer and outer sensory organs for receiving physical signals such as touch.
Antennule: shorter and inner sensory organs for receiving chemical signals such as taste and smell.
Cornea: faceted lenses for detecting fine movements from the surrounding, located on movable oscular peduncle.
Oscular peduncle: supports cornea and allows movement of cornea.
Cheliped: support chela or claw used to grasp and pinch in defense and feeding.
Pereiopods: appendages: 1st pair - chelipeds. 2nd and 3rd pair - used for movement. 4th pair - used to move into and out of the shell. 5th pair - used for cleaning the gills and removing excrement from the shell.
Carapace: the hard exoskeleton covering the cephalothorax.
Pleopods: setae-filled appendages located on the left side of a female's abdomen used for carrying eggs.
Uropods: appendages located at the tip of abdomen used for securing crab's position within its shell.
Telson: tip of exoskeleton ending in the anus.
(Source: Tudge 1995)
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