Long-eyed swimmer crab | |
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Species: | P. vigil
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Podophthalmus vigil (Weber, 1798)
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Podophthalmus vigil is a species of swimmer crab found in tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, Japan, South Africa, the Red Sea, Australia. [1] In Australia the crab is found across the north from Exmouth to Moreton Bay. [2] It is commonly known as the Long-eyed swimmer crab [1] Stalk-eyed swimmer crab, [2] Red crab, [3] or Periscope crab. [4] Like other swimmer crabs the last pair of legs have flattened ends to form paddles. Colors include a greenish brown carapace with possible red spots, claws and legs pale violet, rose red or dark red. [2] [3] [5] The carapace is typically up to 100mm across, [2] very broad at the front, narrow at the back with a spine on each side. There is a single tooth behind the spine. [5] Males are larger than females and have more elongated limbs. [6]
Podophthalmus vigil lives in shallow sandy and muddy areas, especially in bays and river mouths, in depths up to 70m. [5] It is suggested the long eye stalks allow the crab to move the eyes above its body and raise them into clearer water above turbid silt, and to see further. [3] [1] It is consumed by coastal inhabitants in some countries but is only occasionally caught. [2] [3] At night they have been found swimming near the surface and may be attracted by lights [5]
Long-eyed swimmer crab | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Subphylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Infraorder: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | P. vigil
|
Binomial name | |
Podophthalmus vigil (Weber, 1798)
|
Podophthalmus vigil is a species of swimmer crab found in tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, Japan, South Africa, the Red Sea, Australia. [1] In Australia the crab is found across the north from Exmouth to Moreton Bay. [2] It is commonly known as the Long-eyed swimmer crab [1] Stalk-eyed swimmer crab, [2] Red crab, [3] or Periscope crab. [4] Like other swimmer crabs the last pair of legs have flattened ends to form paddles. Colors include a greenish brown carapace with possible red spots, claws and legs pale violet, rose red or dark red. [2] [3] [5] The carapace is typically up to 100mm across, [2] very broad at the front, narrow at the back with a spine on each side. There is a single tooth behind the spine. [5] Males are larger than females and have more elongated limbs. [6]
Podophthalmus vigil lives in shallow sandy and muddy areas, especially in bays and river mouths, in depths up to 70m. [5] It is suggested the long eye stalks allow the crab to move the eyes above its body and raise them into clearer water above turbid silt, and to see further. [3] [1] It is consumed by coastal inhabitants in some countries but is only occasionally caught. [2] [3] At night they have been found swimming near the surface and may be attracted by lights [5]