Florent's Guide To The

South Florida Reefs

Heart Urchin Pea Crab
Dissodactylus primitivus
Heart Urchin Pea Crab
Category: Pea Crabs
Scientific Name: Dissodactylus primitivus
Size: Up to 0.5 in. (1.2 cm)  
Depth: 3-130 ft. (1-40 m)
Distribution: Caribbean, Florida, Bahamas
Note: Lives underside of sea urchin Meoma ventricosa
Arthropoda (Phylum)
└Crustacea (Subphylum)
 └Multicrustacea (Superclass)
  └Malacostraca (Class)
   └Eumalacostraca (Subclass)
    └Eucarida (Superorder)
     └Decapoda (Order)
      └Pleocyemata (Suborder)
       └Brachyura (Infraorder)
        └Pinnotheroidea (Superfamily)
         └Pinnotheridae (Family)
          └Dissodactylus (Genus)
           └D. primitivus (Species)

Crustaceans
Pea Crabs

Heart Urchin Pea Crab



All Photographs
© 2025 Florent Charpin