PEA CRAB

any member of a genus (Pinnotheres) of crabs (order Decapoda) living in certain bivalve mollusks as a commensal (i.e., on or in another animal host but not deriving nourishment from it). Females of Pinnotheres ostreum, also known as the oyster crab, are found in oysters of the Atlantic coastal waters of North America and are especially abundant in oysters of Chesapeake Bay. The body of the female is pinkish white and up to 2 cm (about 0.75 inch) across. An irregular stripe runs from front to back across the carapace, or back. Males, seldom seen, are smaller, dark brown, and usually free-swimming. The female pea crab holds her eggs with the back legs until they hatch. The larvae leave their mollusk home and swim before settling in another mollusk shell. P. maculatus, with a range similar to that of P. ostreum, is found in the shells of scallops, clams, and mussels. P. pisum, found in European coastal waters, lives in mussel and cockle shells.