Petrolisthes novaezelandiae, known as the red half crab or red false crab, is a species of porcelain crab native to New Zealand.
| Petrolisthes novaezelandiae | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Anomura |
| Family: | Porcellanidae |
| Genus: | Petrolisthes |
| Species: | P. novaezelandiae
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| Binomial name | |
| Petrolisthes novaezelandiae (Filhol, 1885)
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| Synonyms | |
|
Petrolisthes stewarti Filhol, 1885[1] | |
Description edit
The carapace is flattened and covered in short fine hairs, length up to 12mm, width up to 12.5mm. Males appear dull reddish to tan brown, while females are greyish brown, often with small red spots. Chelae more slender than in P. elongatus, generally larger in the male.
Distribution and habitat edit
Endemic to New Zealand, where it is widely distributed down to the Auckland Islands. Usually found beneath boulders, or in shell debris. On hard shores sometimes found in the holdfasts of seaweed, especially Macrocystis sp. Rarely found in the intertidal zone, more common from 3 to 75m deep.[2]
References edit
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Petrolisthes novaezelandiae Filhol, 1885". Marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
- ^ McLay, Colin L., “Brachyura and crab-like Anomura of New Zealand”, University of Auckland, Leigh Marine Laboratory, 1988
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