Hemigrapsus sexdentatus

Hemigrapsus sexdentatus, known as the common rock crab (sometimes described as "common shore crab"), is a large-eyed marine crab of the family Varunidae, endemic to the coasts of New Zealand. However, it is not found in the Chatham Islands or the southern islands.[3] It can grow to around 45 millimetres (1.8 in) (female) or 55 millimetres (2.2 in) (male) shell width.[4]

Hemigrapsus sexdentatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Varunidae
Genus:
Hemigrapsus
Species:
H. sexdentatus
Binomial name
Hemigrapsus sexdentatus
Synonyms
  • Hemigrapsus edwardsi (Hilgendorf, 1882)[1]
  • Hemigrapsus edwardsii (Hilgendorf, 1882)[2]

Females are usually in berry (carrying eggs) in the winter months (approx April to September), and they carry up to 26,000 eggs (size 0.35 mm).[3] Males usually have visible bulges of white muscle protruding from the joint of the nippers.[5]

From the eyes to halfway down each edge of the carapace (shell) are three tooth-like notches. The rear most pair of legs are the shortest, the third from rear are the longest. There is a lot of variation in colouration but there are two basic colour types; A paler form with pale to dark red patches on a white to light grey base colour, and a darker form where the patches merge and are a dark purple to blue-black colour with smaller patches of the light coloured base colour showing through. In both forms the colour tends to be darker towards the front, fading and becoming more sparse towards the back. The underside of the crab is white. The legs and claws are white with red to purple pigmentation to the same degree and hue as the carapace. [4][5]

Rock crabs are known to feed on sea snails by crushing their shells through the use of a chela (a "nipper" or pincer-like appendage). Paul Bourdeau, of the Stony Brook University, calls them, "the meanest organisms that I have ever come across".[6]

Muscle bulge on claw of male rock crab

References
  1. Wilkens, Serena L.; Ahyong, Shane T. (2015). Coastal Crabs: A Guide to the Crabs of New Zealand (PDF) (1 ed.). National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. McLay, C. L.; Schubart, C. D. (20 March 2004). "On the correct name for Hemigrapsus edwardsii (Hilgendorf, 1882) (Brachyura: Varunidae) from New Zealand" (PDF). Journal of Natural History. 38: 695–704. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  3. E. W. Bennett (1964). "The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Crustacea Brachyura" (PDF). New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin. 153: 1–120.
  4. C. L. McLay (1988). "Crabs of New Zealand". Leigh Laboratory Bulletin. University of Auckland. 22: 280–285.
  5. "Crustaceans- Grapsidae". "Seafriends marine conservation and education centre". 2015-08-12.
  6. Emma Marris (August 8, 2008). "Snails transmute to guard against danger". Nature. doi:10.1038/news.2008.1022. Retrieved August 11, 2008.


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