Ebalia tumefacta

Ebalia tumefacta, sometimes called Bryer's nut crab,[2] is a species of crab in the family Leucosiidae.[1]

Ebalia tumefacta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Leucosiidae
Genus:
Ebalia
Species:
E. tumefacta
Binomial name
Ebalia tumefacta
(Montagu, 1808)
Synonyms [1]
  • Cancer tumefacta Montagu, 1808
  • Ebalia aspera Costa, 1853

Description

Ebalia tumefacta is a small, roughly diamond-shaped crab, with noticeably bulbous branchial regions. The carapace is wider than it is long, and has minute bumps, giving it a somewhat rough texture. It grows to about 12 millimetres (0.47 in) long and 13 mm (0.51 in) wide. The colouration varies greatly. Although some may have a variegated brown and black carapace, it usually ranges from reddish to greyish-white or yellowish-grey. Sometimes it may have red spots, and occasionally may contain an orange margin and a pale pink median band.[3] The shell has a fine, granular texture. The arms are equal in length and the claws are roughly equal in size.[2]

Distribution

This species is found from West Africa to Norway, and is especially common around the British Isles;[4] it does not occur in the Mediterranean Sea.[2]

Habitat

Ebalia tumefacta lives in muddy sand and gravel at depths of 2–15 metres (6 ft 7 in–49 ft 3 in).[2]

References
  1. Charles Fransen & Michael Türkay (2012). "Ebalia tumefacta (Montagu, 1808)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  2. P. J. Hayward; M. J. Isaac; P. Makings; J. Moyse; E. Naylor; G. Smaldon (1995). "Crustaceans". In P. J. Hayward; John Stanley Ryland (eds.). Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-west Europe. Oxford University Press. pp. 289–461. ISBN 978-0-19-854055-7.
  3. Mario de Kluijver; Sarita Ingalsuo. "Ebalia tumefacta". Macrobenthos of the North Sea – Crustacea. Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  4. Frank Emil Moen; Erling Svensen (2004). Marine Fish & Invertebrates of Northern Europe. AquaPress. ISBN 9780954406028.
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