Podophthalmus vigil is a species of swimmer crab found in tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, Japan, South Africa, the Red Sea, Australia.[1] In Australia the crab is found across the north from Exmouth to Moreton Bay.[2] It is commonly known as the Long-eyed swimmer crab[1] Stalk-eyed swimmer crab,[2] Red crab,[3] or Periscope crab.[4] Like other swimmer crabs the last pair of legs have flattened ends to form paddles. Colors include a greenish brown carapace with possible red spots, claws and legs pale violet, rose red or dark red.[2][3][5] The carapace is typically up to 100mm across,[2] very broad at the front, narrow at the back with a spine on each side. There is a single tooth behind the spine.[5] Males are larger than females and have more elongated limbs.[6]
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| Species: | P. vigil
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| Podophthalmus vigil (Weber, 1798)
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Podophthalmus vigil lives in shallow sandy and muddy areas, especially in bays and river mouths, in depths up to 70m.[5] It is suggested the long eye stalks allow the crab to move the eyes above its body and raise them into clearer water above turbid silt, and to see further.[3][1] It is consumed by coastal inhabitants in some countries but is only occasionally caught.[2][3] At night they have been found swimming near the surface and may be attracted by lights[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Long-eyed Swimmer crab". Western Australian museum. 2012. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e "Stalk-eyed Swimmer crab". Queensland Museum. Queensland Museum. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b c d Motoh, H. "FIELD GUIDE FOR THE EDIBLE CRUSTACEA OF THE PHILIPPINES" (PDF). Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "Podophthalmus vigil". SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b c d Apel, M.; Spiridonov, V. (1998). "Taxonomy and zoogeography of the portunid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) of the Arabian Gulf and adjacent waters". Fauna of Arabia. 17: 159–331.
- ^ Delsman, H. C.; de Man, J. G. (1998). "On the Radjungans of the Bay of Batavia". Treubia. VI: 306–329.
