Kingdom Animalia Class Malacostraca Family Varunidae Scientific name Cyclograpsus granulosus Rank Species | Subphylum Crustacea Infraorder Brachyura Genus Cyclograpsus Phylum Arthropoda Order Decapoda | |
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Similar Cyclograpsus, Decapoda, Mottled shore crab, Varunidae, Grapsoidea | ||
Cyclograpsus granulosus, the purple mottled shore crab or smooth shore crab, is an Australasian crab species.
Contents
Description
C. granulosus grows to a carapace width of about 38 millimetres (1.5 in), with a carapace mottled with red-brown or purple on yellow. The carapace's frontal regions are granulate, and its lateral margins are convex.
Ecology
C. granulosus is most commonly found on stony or boulder beaches. The species occupies both the supralittoral fringe (a region above the level washed by all tides, but subject to flying spray) and the midlittoral region (above the level not uncovered by all tides). However, the species typically occupies the upper midlittoral region. C. granulosus sometimes scrapes out shallow depressions beneath stones, and is most commonly found under boulders.