Ozius deplanatus

Ozius deplanatus, commonly known as the black finger crab and the iron crab, is a species of crab found in New Zealand and Australia.[1][2]

Black finger crab
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Family:
Oziidae
Genus:
Ozius
Species:
O. deplanatus
Binomial name
Ozius deplanatus
H. Milne Edwards, 1834

Distribution

Common around the North Island of New Zealand.[1]

Found in Australia from Eastern Victoria to New South Wales, on Flinders Island and the Kent Group.[2][3]

Also found on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.[3]

Habitat

O. deplanatus is found under boulders and among stones in the lower to mid tidal regions of the intertidal zone on sheltered rocky and gravel shores.[1][4][5]

It is distributed sparsely, with one individual per 5 m2.[1]

Description

Adults average 57 millimetres (2.2 in) in size with a flattened oval-shaped carapace that is wide in the front with blunt lobed edges. This can be a rusty red to chocolate brown colour with light mottling. Underside may be a paler cream colour.[2] The antennae are dark red to brown. Claws are large with a smooth texture.[2] Fingers may be black or brown in colour.[1] Walking legs are pale red with golden setae or hairs.[1]

Behaviour & Diet

The black finger crab is a scavenger feeder.[5] It feeds on snails, half-crabs and hermit crabs. It is known to chip away at the shells of larger snails before grasping the animal with its mouth-parts. Smaller snails are crushed by the crab's large claws. It also feeds on limpets and chitons by using the tip of its claw to remove them from a rock.[1]

It will spread its claws when started or threatened.[1]

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References
  1. Carson, Sally; Morris, Rod (2017). Collins Field Guide to the New Zealand Seashore. Harper Collins Publishers (New Zealand). ISBN 978-1-7755-4010-6.
  2. Wilkens, Serena; Ahyong, Shane (2015). Coastal Crabs: a Guide to the Crabs of New Zealand. https://www.niwa.co.nz/static/web/coastal_crabs_2015.pdf: NIWA Taihoro Nukurangi.CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. Edgar, Graham. (2012). Australian marine life : the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed New Holland. ISBN 9781921517174. OCLC 793720774.
  4. Bennett, Edward William (1964). The marine fauna of New Zealand: Crustacea Brachyura. RE Owen, Government Printer.
  5. "Crab, Black Fingered". www.marinelife.ac.nz. Retrieved 2019-09-29.

http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=440514

https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/966640

http://www.marinelife.ac.nz/species/951

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