What are Porcelain Crabs 4th legs used for?

[madisaurusrexx]

I have extensively googled, but no information has been found about the porcelain crabs tiny 4th legs.

The only information I can find is that they tuck them under their carapace. But that is all.

Any ideas what they use their tiny legs for?

 

[jabberwock]

no, but following

 

[Stomatopods17]

They use them for cleaning specifically.

Tiny ‘sponges’, tiny legs: Their unique functions in the Porcelain Crab

By Siena Watson In our second Arthropod lab, we got to look at many marine species, including crabs, shrimp, and barnacles. Organisms within Phylum Arthropoda share certain traits, including an exo…

davisinvertebrates.wordpress.com

 

[Sean Clark]

You see, when two porcelain crabs really like eachother they ----- ----- ------ and then ----- ----- ------ with the ----- ----- ------ sea shells ----- ----- ------ until ----- ----- ------ takes it to the ----- ----- ------ which causes them to ----- ----- ------ and that's it. That is what they are for.

 

[Fish Styx]

Giggity...

 

[jabberwock]

You see, when two porcelain crabs really like eachother they ----- ----- ------ and then ----- ----- ------ with the ----- ----- ------ sea shells ----- ----- ------ until ----- ----- ------ takes it to the ----- ----- ------ which causes them to ----- ----- ------ and that's it. That is what they are for.

I have six in my 25 gallon tank and so far, no ---- ---- or -------.