{{Short description|Family of crabs}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Paromola cuvieri.jpg | image_caption = ''Paromola cuvieri'' | display_parents = 2 | taxon = Homolidae | authority = De Haan, 1839 }}
The family '''Homolidae''', known as '''carrier crabs'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Family Details for Homolidae - carrier crabs |url=https://sealifebase.se/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=440 |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=sealifebase.se}}</ref> or '''porter crabs''',<ref>[http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=crabs_of_japan&id=42&menuentry=groepen Family Homolidae (Porter crabs)] at the [http://species-identification.org Marine Species Identification Portal]</ref> contains 14 genera of marine crabs. They mostly live on the continental slope and continental shelf, and are rarely encountered.<ref name="Wicksten"/> Members of the Homolidae have their fifth pereiopods (last pair of walking legs) in a sub-dorsal position, which allows them to hold objects in place over the rear half of the carapace.<ref name="Wicksten">{{cite journal |author=Mary K. Wicksten |year=1985 |title=Carrying behavior in the family Homolidae (Decapoda: Brachyura) |journal=Journal of Crustacean Biology |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=476–479 |jstor=1547919 |doi=10.2307/1547919|doi-access=free }}</ref> The objects carried include sponges, black corals and gorgonians, and this behaviour may be a defence mechanism against predators.<ref name="Wicksten"/> Some species have been observed carrying living sea urchins in a symbiotic relationship which allows them to benefit from the protection of the urchin's dangerous spikes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://underwaterphotos.com/article5.htm |title=Relationships on the Reef |access-date=2011-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811071547/http://underwaterphotos.com/article5.htm |archive-date=2011-08-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/animals-pets-kids/invertebrates-kids/crab-carrier-kids.html Carrier Crab video] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220035401/http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/animals-pets-kids/invertebrates-kids/crab-carrier-kids.html |date=2011-02-20 }}, National Geographic</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Carrier Crab|url = http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/crab_carrier|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140312151842/http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/crab_carrier|url-status = dead|archive-date = March 12, 2014|website = video.nationalgeographic.com|accessdate = 2015-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Natural Bling: 6 Amazing Animals That Decorate Themselves|url = http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/150610-animals-camouflage-decoration-bugs-science|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150611230313/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/150610-animals-camouflage-decoration-bugs-science/|url-status = dead|archive-date = June 11, 2015|website = National Geographic News|accessdate = 2015-06-11|first = Mary|last = Bates|date=June 10, 2015}}</ref>
The genus was erected by Dutch zoologist Wilhem De Haan in 1839.<ref name=":0" />
==Genera== A total of 14 genera are currently recognised in the family:<ref>{{cite web |author=Peter Davie & Michael Türkay |year=2011 |title=Homolidae |publisher=World Register of Marine Species |url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106744 |accessdate=April 27, 2011}}</ref> *''Dagnaudus'' <small>Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995</small> *''Gordonopsis'' <small>Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995</small> *''Homola'' <small>Leach, 1816</small> *''Homolax'' <small>Alcock, 1899</small> *''Homolochunia'' <small>Doflein, 1904</small> *''Homologenus'' <small>A. Milne-Edwards, in Henderson, 1888</small> *''Homolomannia'' <small>Ihle, 1912</small> *''Ihlopsis'' <small>Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995</small> *''Lamoha'' <small>Ng, 1998</small> *''Latreillopsis'' <small>Henderson, 1888</small> *''Moloha'' <small>Barnard, 1947</small> *''Paromola'' <small>Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891</small> *''Paromolopsis'' <small>Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891</small> *''Yaldwynopsis'' <small>Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995</small>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Dromiacea Category:Taxa named by Wilhem de Haan Category:Decapod families
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