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Diogenes heteropsammicola is a species of hermit crab that lives within "walking corals" of the genera Heterocyathus and Heteropsammia. The species was discovered somewhere between 2012 and 2016 by two Japanese Marine Biologists named, Momoko Igawa and Makoto Kato of Kyoto University.



Mutualistic and Symbiotic Relationship:

These coral have an internal cavity that is typically occupied by a symbiotic sipunculan worm; in the crab's habitat in the Ōshima Straight south of Amami Ōshima, it is often found inside the corals instead.

The Diogenes Heteropsammicola and the coral share a mutualistic symbiotic relationship in that the crab receives protection while the coral receives transportation from the crab. In simple terms, the crab prevents the Heteropsammicola from getting lost under the rocks of the seabed. Their relationship is considered symbiotic because they have become dependent on each other for survival.

Interestingly enough the Scipuncula worm that inhabits the inside of the coral also possesses a symbiotic relationship with the coral because it fulfills the same role as the Diogenes crab which is essentially to safeguard the coral and prolong it's lifespan.

Unconfirmed Theory:

The Scipuncula worm maintains a mutualistic relationship with the coral but there are some rumors that their relationship may turn parasitic, these claims however remain unsubstantiated because Dr. Igawa and Dr. Kawa could find no concrete evidence to suggest that the coral suffered any serious tissue damage from housing the worm inside of it.

Scientific Speculation:

It is unconfirmed why the Heteropsammicola Coral develops a symbiotic connection with both the hermit crab and the Scipuncula, but it could be that the coral uses the Diogenes Heteropsammicola as a complimentary partner instead of the worm.

References:

Diogenes heteropsammicola is a species of hermit crab that lives within "walking corals" of the genera Heterocyathus and Heteropsammia.
 * 1) Igawa, M, Kato M (September 2017). "A new species of hermit crab, Diogenes heteropsammicola (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae), replaces a mutualistic sipunculan in a walking coral symbiosis." PLOS ONE. 12 (9): e0184311.
 * 2) Lewis, M. S.; Taylor, J. D. (1966). "Marine Sediments and Bottom Communities of the Seychelles." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 259 (1099): 279–290 Bibcode:1966RSPTA.259..279L.



These coral have an internal cavity that is typically occupied by a symbiotic sipunculan worm; in the crab's habitat in the Ōshima Straight south of Amami Ōshima, it is often found inside the corals instead.