Persephona mediterranea
(Herbst, 1794)
Mottled Purse Crab
Persephona mediterranea, commonly known as the mottled purse crab, is a true crab in the Leucosiidae. Despite its specific epithet 'mediterranea', it is found in the western Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean Sea. The species was first described by Herbst in 1794 under the basionym Cancer mediterraneus. It belongs to a family known for rounded or purse-like .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Persephona mediterranea: //pɛr.sɛˈfoʊ.nə ˌmɛdɪtəˈreɪniə//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Distribution
Western Atlantic Ocean
Misconceptions
The specific epithet 'mediterranea' suggests a Mediterranean distribution, but the actually occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean. This mismatch between name and actual range may reflect historical taxonomic confusion or the original description being based on mislabeled material.
More Details
Taxonomic history
Originally described as Cancer mediterraneus by Herbst in 1794, the was later transferred to the Persephona. The basionym reflects early crustacean when many crabs were placed in the broad genus Cancer.
Family characteristics
Leucosiidae, the purse crabs or pebble crabs, are characterized by rounded, often smooth that may resemble a purse or pebble in shape. Members of this are typically small to medium-sized crabs found in marine environments.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
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