Mictyris platycheles is a species of crab found on mudflats on the east coast of Australia from Tasmania and Victoria to Queensland.[2] They live in large groups, so are commonly called soldier crabs.[3] Adults are 15 mm (0.59 in) across and similarly tall, and are coloured blue to blue-grey.[3] Mictyris platycheles gets its food by picking up balls of sands and putting it in its mouth, which filters out the food particles (detritus).

Mictyris platycheles
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Mictyridae
Genus: Mictyris
Species:
M. platycheles
Binomial name
Mictyris platycheles

References edit

  1. ^ Peter Davie (2010). "Mictyris platycheles H. Milne Edwards, 1852". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  2. ^ "Crabs". Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Soldier Crab, Mictyris platycheles". Museum Victoria. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.