Mithrax spinosissimus
| Mithrax spinosissimus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Mithracidae |
| Genus: | Maguimithrax
|
| Species: | M. spinosissimus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Maguimithrax spinosissimus Lamarck, 1818
| |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Maguimithrax spinosissimus,
Diet
The diet of this crab is largely unknown; however, it is considered a large omnivore that has been noted to feed on algae and carrion.[6] Unlike crabs such as the blue crab, the West Indian spider crab is not commercially harvested for its meat.[4]
Description
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M. spinosissimus has a reddish-brown carapace and walking legs. The claws are smooth, purplish gray, with a single row of nodules along the outer edge, and blunt claw tips. The legs are covered with numerous short spines and nodules. It is the largest native crab species of the Atlantic. It can reach up to 3 kg of weight and a carapace length of 18 cm.[3]
Distribution
M. spinosissimus is found from North Carolina to Venezuela. It inhabits caves and reef underhangs from the shallow intertidal to depths of up to 200 m.[3]
It was made the type species of a separate genus Maguimithrax by Klompmaker et al. (2015).[7]
Human intervention
Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida is spawning the crabs in hopes they will eat algae and benefit coral reefs.[8][9]
References
- Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-06-06.
- doi:10.14284/170. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ S2CID 237417648.
- ^ S2CID 84979885.
- ISBN 978-1-878348-31-9.
- S2CID 84169238.
- S2CID 13515540.
- ^ Kuizon, Kimberly (12 September 2023). "Mote Marine Laboratory Aquaculture Research Park breeding Caribbean King Crabs to help with coral restoration". WTVT.
- ^ Jones, Benji (27 September 2023). "Scientists will unleash an army of crabs to help save Florida's dying reef". Vox. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
External links
Media related to Mithrax spinosissimus at Wikimedia Commons- Photos of Mithrax spinosissimus on Sealife Collection
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