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| crabs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Menippidae |
| Maroon
stone crab Menippe rumphii Family Menippidae updated Jul 11 Where seen? This sturdy crab is sometimes among stones, coral rubble, rubbish and other hiding places. Features: Body width to about 9cm. Large rounded body, reddish brown to pinkish brown and maroon in adults; young crabs maroon to reddish brown, with longitudinal white stripes. Large pincers with black-tipped claws. Its eyes are all red without any green, unlike the very similar looking Stone crab (Myomenippe hardwicki). Carapace and appendages Steady crab: When a stone is overturned, other crabs usually madly dash out helter skelter. The stone crab merely tucks its limbs under its body and remains motionless. In this way, predators overlook it as they focus instead on the more nervous crabs. Sometimes mistaken for Red egg crabs (Atergatis integerrimus), especially Stone crabs that are rather reddish. Red egg crabs have a similar shaped body but their eyes are all red and they usually have white dots on their body, although some may be plain. May also be confused with similar crabs in the same habitat. Here's more on how to tell apart big crabs with big pincers seen on the rocky shores and coral rubble. |
 Changi, Jun 08  |
 Pulau Sekudu, Oct 11 |
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 No green in the eyes. |
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