Ovalipes catharus
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| Ovalipes catharus | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Ovalipes catharus (White, 1843) |
Ovalipes catharus, or New Zealand paddle crab, is a crab of the family Portunidae, endemic to New Zealand. It is found on sandy shallow water beaches, usually buried with just its eyes and feelers exposed waiting for prey but actively swimming at night.
The rim of the front half of the body is sharply toothed and the tips of the last pair of legs are paddle-shaped. It feeds on any dead animals as well as living tuatuas or ghost shrimps.
Length of the carapace is up to 85 mm.
[edit] References
- Miller M & Batt G, Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand, William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973
- Royal Society of New Zealand
