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| Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Xanthidae |
| Red
egg crab Atergatis integerrimus Family Xanthidae updated Dec 08
Where seen? This colourful round crab can be very commonly seen on many of our shores in coral rubble areas and reefs. Slow moving, it usually hides under large coral rubble pieces, but can be quite active at night. Features: Body width 8-10cm. Large oval body that is reddish brown, orangey to bright red, with small white spots all over. Large pincers have black tips that are spoon-shaped. Males may have larger claws. Like most other Xanthid crabs, it is highly poisonous and should not be eaten. Sometimes mistaken for stone crabs (Myomenippe hardwickii). Stone crabs look similar but have green eyes ringed with red. Stone crabs are usually plain (no dots) and tend to be grey or beige but may sometimes be reddish. More about how to tell apart crabs with big pincers. Status and threats: This crab is listed as 'Vulnerable' in the Red Data list of threatened animals of Singapore. |
 Raffles Lighthouse, Aug 06  Small eyes which are all red. |
These colourful crabs are poisonous to eat! Their toxins
are NOT destroyed by cooking.
 Manipulating an algae covered stone. Labrador, May 06 |
 Pincers with spoon-shaped tips and large bumps. |
Red egg crabs on Singapore shores
 Sisters Islands, Dec 05  |
 Sentosa, Jul 05  |
 Sentosa, Aug 06  A pair mating. |
Links
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Venom & Toxin Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, National
University of Singapore. 156 pp.|
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