Biology:Atelecyclus undecimdentatus

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Short description: Species of crab

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus
Atelecyclus undecimdentatus.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Atelecyclidae
Genus: Atelecyclus
Species:
A. undecimdentatus
Binomial name
Atelecyclus undecimdentatus
(Herbst, 1783)

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus is a species of crab in the family Atelecyclidae.[1][2][3]

Description

The body of this crab is quite hairy, and has a whitish to cream colour, with purple marks on the carapace. The carapace has a smooth texture and a fringe of long setae. It is and is wider than it is long, growing up to 5 cm long 6.3 cm wide. The postero-lateral margins strongly converge.[4]

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus is often very dirty which can alter its appearance. It has short antennae, being only about a quarter of the length of the carapace. The claws are similar to each other, with black tips. Both the claws and legs have many bristles.[4]

This crab is sometimes mistaken for the more common Atelecyclus rotundatus. However, Atelecyclus rotundatus can be distinguished by its finer granulations and narrower carapace.[5]

Distribution

This species is found in the coastal Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, and also rarely occurs in the Mediterranean Sea.[4]

Habitat

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus normally lives in waters around 30 metres deep on bottoms ranging from gravel to sandy mud, sometimes under rocks.[4]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q2868808 entry