Kingdom Animalia Class Malacostraca Phylum Arthropoda Rank Species | Subphylum Crustacea Family Grapsidae Genus Metopograpsus Order Decapoda | |
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Similar Metopograpsus, Metopograpsus messor, Decapoda, Grapsus albolineatus, Grapsus tenuicrustatus | ||
The thukuhar shore-crab (Metopograpsus thukuhar), also known as alamihi crab, is a species of crab that lives in mangroves all over from Africa to Fiji.
Contents
Distribution
A mangrove inhabitant, it is found all over mangrove forests of Hawaii, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sumatra, Japan, Taiwan, China, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.
Description
Male grows up to maximum length of 5 cm. Carapace and legs brownish-yellow or brownish red in color along with mottling. Claws violet in adults and pinkish in juveniles.
Ecology
The species is well distributed in mangrove regions mainly in Rhizophora mucronata and Ceriops tagal zones, hiding through mangrove roots. It is an omnivore feeds both on water plants, mangrove associates and animal carcasses. It is not a burrowing crab species, only live around lower trunk regions and roots.