To which infraorder, grouping it with hermit crabs, is the Yeti Crab classified?
Answer
Anomura
Although the Yeti Crab possesses a general crab-like structure featuring a hard shell and large claws, its internal organization places it taxonomically outside the group of true crabs (Brachyura). Instead, *Kiwa hirsuta* belongs to the infraorder Anomura. This classification places it alongside relatives known as squat lobsters, which notably includes the familiar hermit crabs. This distinction highlights that while superficially similar to crabs, its evolutionary lineage aligns more closely with these squat lobster relatives, necessitating the establishment of its unique family, Kiwaidae.

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