Biology:Podophthalmus vigil

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Short description: Crab, Swimmer, Podophthalmus vigil

Long-eyed swimmer crab
Specimen of Podophthalmus vigil.JPG
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Order:
Infraorder:
Family:
Genus:
Podophthalmus
Species:
P. vigil
Binomial name
Podophthalmus vigil
(Weber, 1798)
Podophthalmus vigil

Podophthalmus vigil is a species of swimmer crab found in tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, Japan, South Africa, the Red Sea, Australia.[1] In Australia the crab is found across the north from Exmouth to Moreton Bay.[2] It is commonly known as the Long-eyed swimmer crab[1] Stalk-eyed swimmer crab,[2] Red crab,[3] or Periscope crab.[4] Like other swimmer crabs the last pair of legs have flattened ends to form paddles. Colors include a greenish brown carapace with possible red spots, claws and legs pale violet, rose red or dark red.[2][3][5] The carapace is typically up to 100mm across,[2] very broad at the front, narrow at the back with a spine on each side. There is a single tooth behind the spine.[5] Males are larger than females and have more elongated limbs.[6]

Podophthalmus vigil lives in shallow sandy and muddy areas, especially in bays and river mouths, in depths up to 70m.[5] It is suggested the long eye stalks allow the crab to move the eyes above its body and raise them into clearer water above turbid silt, and to see further.[3][1] It is consumed by coastal inhabitants in some countries but is only occasionally caught.[2][3] At night they have been found swimming near the surface and may be attracted by lights[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Long-eyed Swimmer crab". 2012. https://museum.wa.gov.au/creature-feature-long-eyed-swimmer-crab. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Stalk-eyed Swimmer crab". Queensland Museum. https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/sitecore/content/Shared+Content/Find+out+about/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Crustaceans/Common+marine+crustaceans/Crabs/Stalk-eyed+Swimmer+Crab. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "FIELD GUIDE FOR THE EDIBLE CRUSTACEA OF THE PHILIPPINES". Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC). https://repository.seafdec.org.ph/bitstream/handle/10862/152/ediblecrustacea.pdf. 
  4. "Podophthalmus vigil". https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Podophthalmus-vigil.html. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Apel, M.; Spiridonov, V. (1998). "Taxonomy and zoogeography of the portunid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) of the Arabian Gulf and adjacent waters". Fauna of Arabia 17: 159-331. 
  6. Delsman, H. C.; de Man, J. G. (1998). "On the Radjungans of the Bay of Batavia". Treubia VI: 306-329. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q4481824 entry