Ethusa mascarone

Ethusa mascarone is a species of crabs in the family Ethusidae.[1][2]

Ethusa mascarone
Ethusa mascarone. Museum specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Ethusidae
Genus:
Ethusa
Species:
E. mascarone
Binomial name
Ethusa mascarone
(Herbst, 1785)
Synonyms
  • Aethusa makarone Guérin, 1832
  • Cancer mascarone Herbst, 1785
  • Dorippe mascaronius Risso, 1816

Description

The cephalothorax of Ethusa mascarone is almost rectangular, it can reach a length of 15 millimetres (0.59 in) and a width of 13 millimetres (0.51 in). The body color is gray-brown, with brown lines on the carapace and transverse striae on the abdomen. Chelipeds and legs are lighter and white speckled.[3]

The front pairs of legs are long, but the hind legs are shorter and are used to carry on the back a variety of objects and organisms, especially valves of bivalves, by which these crabs camouflage and protect themselves.[4]

They mainly feed on small organisms and decaying flesh of dead animals.[4]

Distribution

This species is present in the Mediterranean Sea.[5][6]

Habitat

These crabs live on sandy substrate and muddy bottom, from a few meters up to 75 m deep.[4]

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References
  1. Encyclopedia of life
  2. ITIS
  3. Tegnue.chioggia
  4. Podvodni
  5. WoRMS
  6. Sealife Base
  • Türkay, M. (2001). Decapoda, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 284–292


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