Biology:Leptuca terpsichores

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Short description: Species of crab

Leptuca terpsichores
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Ocypodidae
Subfamily: Gelasiminae
Tribe: Minucini
Genus: Leptuca
Species:
L. terpsichores
Binomial name
Leptuca terpsichores
(Crane, 1941)
Synonyms

Uca terpsichores (basionym)

Leptuca terpsichores, commonly known as the dancing fiddler crab, is a species of fiddler crab native to the eastern Pacific coast of the Americas, from Nicaragua to Peru.[1]

Taxonomy

Previously a member of the genus Uca, the species was transferred in 2016 to the genus Leptuca when Leptuca was promoted from subgenus to genus level.[2][3] At one time, the species was considered a subspecies of L. musica.[1]

Description

The adult carapace is approximately 7 mm wide.[1] The carapace is grey in color and males may exhibit yellow dorsal markings.[1]

Similar species

Leptuca terpsichores is smaller than L. musica.[1] L. terpsichores has smaller tubercles on the outer manus and fewer tubercles along the anterior carapace.[1] The gape in the major cheliped is less serrate and the gape in the minor cheliped is slightly narrower.[1]

Habitat

The species can be found on bay shores with muddy sand substrate.[1]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q107086621 entry