The hairy stone crab (Lomis hirta) is a crab-like anomuran crustacean that lives in the littoral zone of southern Australia from Bunbury, Western Australia, to the Bass Strait.[2] It is the only species in the family Lomisidae. It is 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1.0 in) wide,[2] slow-moving, and covered in brown hair which camouflages it against the rocks upon which it lives.[3]
Some controversy exists about the relationship between L. hirta and the other anomuran families. Candidates for its closest relatives have included hermit crabs,[4] specifically king crabs,[5] and Aegla.[6][7] It is clear, however, that Lomis represents a separate case of carcinisation.[8]
^Martin, J. W.; Abele, L. G. (1986). "Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Aegla (Decapoda: Anomura: Aeglidae), with comments on anomuran phylogeny". Journal of Crustacean Biology. 6 (3). The Crustacean Society: 576–616. doi:10.2307/1548195. JSTOR1548195.
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