Pachygrapsus
Pachygrapsus
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Crustacea
- Class: Malacostraca
- Superorder: Eucarida
- Order: Decapoda
- Infraorder: Brachyura
- Family: Grapsidae
- Genus: Pachygrapsus
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pachygrapsus: //ˌpækɪˈɡræpsəs//
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Summary
Pachygrapsus marmoratus, known as the marbled rock crab or marbled crab, is a species of crab found in Southern Europe, notable for its distinctive coloration and rapid movement. It is an omnivore that thrives in coastal habitats and has a planktonic larval stage that aids in its distribution and colonization of new areas.
Physical Characteristics
Dark violet brown with yellow marbling; square carapace 22–36 millimetres (0.87–1.42 in) long; has three teeth on each side of the carapace.
Identification Tips
Distinguished from related species by the presence of three teeth on each side of the carapace and its rapid movement which allows it to dart into crevices.
Habitat
Lives in coastal areas including rocky shores and crevices, often in semiterrestrial environments.
Distribution
Widespread in Southern Europe, from the Black Sea to the Moroccan coast, and along the Atlantic coasts of Portugal, Spain, and France. Observed as far north as Southampton in the English Channel since 1996.
Diet
Semiterrestrial omnivore, feeding on algae, mussels, limpets, and occasionally its own species.
Life Cycle
The larvae are planktonic and may survive for up to 31 days, leading to high gene flow between populations.
Predators
Musky octopus, Eledone moschata.
Ecosystem Role
As an omnivore, it plays a role in algae and animal population control on coastal ecosystems.
Similar Taxa
Tags
- Crab
- Pachygrapsus marmoratus
- Marine Biology
- Crustaceans
- Ecosystems