Where does *Kiwa hirsuta* sit structurally relative to hermit crabs within the Decapoda order?
Answer
It is more closely aligned with the Anomura infraorder
While *Kiwa hirsuta* belongs to the order Decapoda (ten-footed), it is specifically placed within the infraorder Anomura. This placement signifies a closer evolutionary relationship to organisms like hermit crabs and king crabs, rather than the group known as true crabs (Brachyura). This alignment is significant because the Anomuran body plan demonstrates a high degree of flexibility and adaptation, which proved crucial for this lineage to successfully colonize and thrive in the chemically supported, high-pressure environment of the deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Its classification within Anomura suggests an evolutionary history marked by successful morphological modification.
Related Questions
What is the meaning associated with the genus name *Kiwa* for the Yeti Crab?Which characteristic primarily defines the specific epithet *hirsuta* in *Kiwa hirsuta*'s scientific name?Where does *Kiwa hirsuta* sit structurally relative to hermit crabs within the Decapoda order?What specialized structures on the Yeti Crab's claws are used for cultivating food?Why was the family designation Kiwaidae established specifically for the *Kiwa* genus?What fundamental biological process supports the ecosystem near the Yeti Crab's habitat?What key factor necessitated relying heavily on molecular analyses during the classification of *Kiwa hirsuta*?What defining environmental feature characterizes the discovery location of *Kiwa hirsuta*?Which characteristics are listed for organisms classified under the Phylum Arthropoda?Which other species shares the genus *Kiwa* with the Yeti Crab, and where was it found?