Metopograpsus thukuhar

The thukuhar shore-crab (Metopograpsus thukuhar), also known as alamihi crab,[2] is a species of crab that lives in mangroves all over from Africa to Fiji.

Thukuhar shore-crab
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Family:
Grapsidae
Genus:
Metopograpsus
Species:
M. thukuhar
Binomial name
Metopograpsus thukuhar
(Owen, 1839)
Synonyms
  • Grapsus thukuhar Owen, 1839
  • Metopograpsus eydouxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853
  • Metopograpsus intermedius H. Milne Edwards, 1853
  • Pachygrapsus parallelus Randall, 1840[1]

Distribution

A mangrove inhabitant, it is found all over mangrove forests of Hawaii, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sumatra, Japan, Taiwan, China, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.[3]

Description

Male grows up to maximum length of 5 cm. Carapace and legs brownish-yellow or brownish red in color along with mottling. Claws violet in adults and pinkish in juveniles.[4]

Ecology

The species is well distributed in mangrove regions mainly in Rhizophora mucronata and Ceriops tagal zones, hiding through mangrove roots. It is an omnivore feeds both on water plants, mangrove associates and animal carcasses. It is not a burrowing crab species, only live around lower trunk regions and roots.[5]

References
  1. "Metopograpsus thukuhar (Owen, 1839)". World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  2. "Metopograpsus thukuhar in Hawaii". marine life photography. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  3. "Distribution of Metopograpsus thukuhar". Marine species identification portal. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  4. "Metopograpsus thukuhar (Owen, 1839)". A field guide to Kenyan mangroves. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  5. "Thukuhar Shore-Crab". Cook Islands Biodiversity Database. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
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