| Abstract |
A new species of pea crab, Pinnotheres halingi (family Pinnotheridae), is found encysted in the right respiratory tree of the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra (Holothuridae), from the Solomon Islands. The reproduction, infestation and pairing behaviour of these unusual crabs were investigated through field observations and various experiments. A single pea crab (male or female) per host was found three months after larval infestation. Young males appeared to be strongly attracted to hosts that sheltered a single female, suggesting that pairing occurs as a male joins a female when they are <6 mm wide. Larger crabs could not enter the host. Since the crabs induce the atrophy of the right respiratory tree of their host, P. halingi is regarded as an obligate permanent parasite of H. scabra. |
