Leptocheliidae

The males of Leptocheliidae are characterized by dimorphic chelipeds, larger than those of the females, in some cases significantly exceeding the body length. While normally held folded, the chelipeds are extended fully-forward during swimming. The extremely slender chelipeds found in the Leptochelia minuta group are unlikely to be capable of any feeding or locomotory function. Collected at Lizard Island. Credit: Magda Blazewicz-Paszkowycz, University of Lodz