Dromilites belli is a relatively rare species of crab found in the London Clay in the sites:
Aveley, Medway Esturay, Maylandsea, Stepple Bay, Tankerton, Elmley, Herne Bay, Hampton Pier, Seasalter and Walton-On-The-Naze.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Superclass: Multicrustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Subclass: Eumalacostraca
Superorder: Eucarida
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Section: Dromiacea
Superfamily: Dromioidea
Family: Dromiidae (Cloest living relatives)
Subfamily: Dromiidae incertae sedis
Genus: Dromilites
Species: Dromilites belli
Image taken from Tony Mitchell's Database with Tony Mitchell's help and permission.
Location: Isle of Sheppey
Image accreditation:
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/r03853
Locality: Seasalter, foreshore exposure
Image accreditation: https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/a68133
Locality: Copenhagen Fields
Collector's name: Wetherell
Image accreditation: https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/a24558
Location: Isle of Sheppey
Image accreditation:
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/r03854
Location: Copenhagen Fields
Image accreditation:
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/a66911
Dromilites belli is part of the family Dromiidae (often referred to as sponge crabs) which is still alive today.
Members of the Dromiidae family are small or medium-sized crabs which get their name from the ability to shape a living sponge into a portable shelter for themselves. A sponge crab cuts out a fragment from a sponge and trims it to its own shape using its claws. The last two pairs of legs are shorter than other legs and bend upward over the crab's carapace, to hold the sponge in place. The sponge grows along with the crab, providing a consistent shelter.
On the left is a photo of Lauridromia dehaani which is another member of the Dromiidae family which is alive today.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you very much Tony Mitchell for allowing usage of an image on this page.
References:
https://www.marinespecies.org/traits./aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1632580
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/a68133
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/a24558
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/r03853
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/a66911
https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/r03854