Purple rock crab
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| Leptograpsus variegatus (Fabricius, 1793) |
The purple rock crab, Leptograpsus variegatus, is a marine large-eyed crab of the family Grapsidae, found in southern subtropical Indo-Pacific Oceans from Western Australia to western South America, and in New Zealand from the top of the North Island to Kaikoura or Westport, and the Kermadec Islands. It grows to around 50 mm shell width.
The large purple rock crab is found at and above high tide level, even in moist crevices up to two metres above high tide. It is capable of remaining out of water for days, but can also stay submerged. Its long, flat legs fold neatly together, giving it a very flat profile. It is active mainly at night. As an omnivore, it feeds on both animal (flea mussels, barnacles) and plant matter (seaweeds, plankton slime). A fast runner, it can be very aggressive with its nippers.
Females are in berry from November to February, and they carry from 55,000 to 144,000 eggs (size 0.36 mm) for about 6 weeks, during which time the eggs change colour from dark brown to light brown.
