Paragrapsus laevis is a species of crab found in south eastern Australia, from southern Queensland to around the South Australian border, including Tasmania.[1]
Paragrapsus laevis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Family: | Varunidae |
Genus: | Paragrapsus |
Species: | P. laevis
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Binomial name | |
Paragrapsus laevis (Dana, 1851)
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Paragrapsus_laevis%2C_Port_Macquarie%2C_NSW%2C_Australia.jpg/220px-Paragrapsus_laevis%2C_Port_Macquarie%2C_NSW%2C_Australia.jpg)
It is commonly known as the mottled shore crab.[2] Carapace is up to around 35[3] to 40mm across,[2] with two notches in each side behind the eye, and has two well defined lobes. Claws are reddish on top, whitish underneath. Paragrapsus laevis individuals are redder and a little smaller than Paragrapsus gaimardii individuals. Males have significantly large claws compared to females.[3]
It lives on tidal shores, in sheltered bays or in estuaries, but not far inland. It can be found in mangroves in burrows and under debris or rocks.[4]
Chasmagnathus laevis, Paragrapsus verreauxi are previous synonyms of Paragrapsus laevis.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Australian Faunal Directory". Australian Biological Resources Study. 2018. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ a b "Paragrapsus laevis Mottled Shore Crab in Museums Victoria Collections". Museum Victoria Collections. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
- ^ a b Diana S. Jones & Gary J. Morgan (2002). A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters Second Edition. Chatswood, New South Wales: Western Australian Museum/New Holland Publishers. ISBN 9781876334826.
- ^ Campbell, B. M.; Griffin, D.J.G. (1966-02-28). "The Australian Sesarminae (Crustacea: Brachyura): Genera Helice, Helograpsus Nov., Cyclograpsus and Paragrapsus" (PDF). reprint from Volume 14, Part 5, Memoirs of the Oueensland Museum.