Harryplax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harryplax |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Christmaplacidae |
| Genus: | Harryplax Mendoza & Ng, 2017 |
| Type species | |
| Harryplax severus Mendoza & Ng, 2017
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Harryplax is a special type of crab that lives in the ocean. It has only one known species, called Harryplax severus. This small crab was first found in 1998 but wasn't officially named and described until 2017. It lives in shallow waters, usually between 1 and 7.6 meters (about 3 to 25 feet) deep.
The name of this crab is quite interesting! It's a tribute to two different "Harrys." Part of the name honors Harry T. Conley, who was the person who first collected this unique crab. The other part of the name, and the species name "severus," are inspired by characters from the famous Harry Potter book series.
Discovering the Harry Potter Crab
This fascinating crab was first collected a long time ago, back in 1998. It was found by a collector named Harry T. Conley. For many years, scientists studied it carefully. Finally, in 2017, two scientists, Jose C. E. Mendoza and Peter K. L. Ng, officially described and named it.
Where Does Harryplax Severus Live?
Harryplax severus lives in the ocean near Guam. Guam is an island in the western Pacific Ocean. These crabs prefer to live in shallow parts of the ocean. They are found in waters that are not too deep, usually less than 8 meters (about 26 feet) down. This makes them different from some deep-sea crabs.
Why the Name Harryplax Severus?
The scientists who named this crab decided to have some fun with it!
- The Harryplax part of the name is a nod to Harry T. Conley, the person who discovered the crab.
- It also pays tribute to the popular character Harry Potter from the magical book series.
- The species name, severus, is a direct reference to Severus Snape, another important character from the Harry Potter books.
This unique naming choice makes the Harryplax severus crab memorable and adds a touch of magic to the world of science!
