Mottle brown Columbus crab found washed ashore. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also referred to as Gulfweed crab or flotsam crab. Conspicuous eyes in wide orbits at the corners of the wide front edge of the carapace. First pair of pereiopods - or walking legs - with a symmetrical pair of chelae - or claws… Continue reading Columbus crab (Planes minutus)
Category: True crabs
Tuberculate crab (Plagusia squamosa)
Composite image of the dorsal and underside view of a juvenile tuberculate crab recorded from the samples I processed during my PhD. Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal (2022) - iNaturalist Also referred to as the scaly rock crab. Formerly considered a subspecies of Plagusia depressa (as Plagusia depress subsp. tuberculata). Similar to the Cape rock crab, except… Continue reading Tuberculate crab (Plagusia squamosa)
Pebble crab (Leucisca squalina)
Above and underside view of Leucisca squalina taken using a Leica microscope. Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal (2022) - iNaturalist Carapace is light brown, sub-circular, broader than long, with a smooth dorsal surface and a moderately bi-lobed narrow front. Eyes hidden beneath the front. Chelipeds about half as long as carapace. Legs not granulated. Male abdomen with… Continue reading Pebble crab (Leucisca squalina)
Green rock crab (Grapsus fourmanoiri)
Green rock crab cruising in a rock pool. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Very similar to the Natal rock crab in structure, but dull khaki-green tinged with yellow and with pale nippers. The sides of its carapace are almost straight, not obviously convex as in the Natal rock crab. About… Continue reading Green rock crab (Grapsus fourmanoiri)
Natal rock crab (Grapsus tenuicrustatus)
Natal rock crab waiting for the waves on rock boulders. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Carapace black, usually speckled with green. Sides obviously convex. The posterior part of the carapace has about eight fine grooves that run outwards to the edge. Legs red-brown and yellow. Nippers dark red. 'Hand' weakly… Continue reading Natal rock crab (Grapsus tenuicrustatus)
Shore crab (Cyclograpsus punctatus)
Small crab in a rock crevice. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Carapace very smooth, except for a granular 'chest'. Sides of carapace convex, lacking marginal teeth, although a single low tooth lies just outside each eye. Nippers smooth. Body black or dark brown near the front, blending into a grey-green network towards the back.… Continue reading Shore crab (Cyclograpsus punctatus)
Cape rock crab (Guinusia chabrus)
Crab hiding under a boulder. Hondeklipbaai, Northern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Formerly known as Plagusia chabrus. Carapace smooth and velvety in texture, with two notches between the eyes that house the first antennae, and three marginal teeth. Colour red-brown, with orange-yellow ridges on the legs, and rows of yellow tubercles on the nippers. About 50… Continue reading Cape rock crab (Guinusia chabrus)
F*CK FISH 