Roger Steeb, USA
Info
Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803)
The mangrove root crab grows to approximately 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) in size and has a square dark brown shell that varies in color, short red stalked eyes at the front corners, and equally sized claws without bristles and flat teeth. The legs are red and hairy with yellow and white spots on the sides. There are larger white spots on the edges of the carapace.
Males and females are generally the same size when fully mature. The abdomen of females is wider than that of males. The basic color varies between reddish, purple and dark brown carapace. Juvenile crabs are often confused with other species.
Mangrove root crabs inhabit almost all mangrove microhabitats of muddy banks, swamps and sandy soil between the roots and trunks of mangrove trees and are also semi-arboreal. They do not build burrows, but instead occupy and plunder the dwellings of other crabs in the ground.
These crabs are active both day and night. Mangrove root crabs eat mangrove leaves and eat organic material around the mangrove roots, dead mangrove leaves and also carrion. But they are also active predators and hunt fiddler crabs (Uca) and Aratus pisonii.
They are mostly solitary creatures and keep a distance of around 30cm from other crabs. To defend themselves, they hold out their scissors towards the attacker. They are rarely found in small groups of 2-3 animals. Mangrove root crabs are very fast and agile and difficult to catch.
Synonymised names:
Grapsus (Goniopsis) cruentata Latreille, 1803 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Grapsus cruentatus Latreille, 1803 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Grapsus longipes Randall, 1840 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
The mangrove root crab grows to approximately 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) in size and has a square dark brown shell that varies in color, short red stalked eyes at the front corners, and equally sized claws without bristles and flat teeth. The legs are red and hairy with yellow and white spots on the sides. There are larger white spots on the edges of the carapace.
Males and females are generally the same size when fully mature. The abdomen of females is wider than that of males. The basic color varies between reddish, purple and dark brown carapace. Juvenile crabs are often confused with other species.
Mangrove root crabs inhabit almost all mangrove microhabitats of muddy banks, swamps and sandy soil between the roots and trunks of mangrove trees and are also semi-arboreal. They do not build burrows, but instead occupy and plunder the dwellings of other crabs in the ground.
These crabs are active both day and night. Mangrove root crabs eat mangrove leaves and eat organic material around the mangrove roots, dead mangrove leaves and also carrion. But they are also active predators and hunt fiddler crabs (Uca) and Aratus pisonii.
They are mostly solitary creatures and keep a distance of around 30cm from other crabs. To defend themselves, they hold out their scissors towards the attacker. They are rarely found in small groups of 2-3 animals. Mangrove root crabs are very fast and agile and difficult to catch.
Synonymised names:
Grapsus (Goniopsis) cruentata Latreille, 1803 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Grapsus cruentatus Latreille, 1803 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Grapsus longipes Randall, 1840 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
