| Calappa hepatica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Calappidae |
| Genus: | Calappa |
| Species: | C. hepatica |
| Binomial name | |
| Calappa hepatica (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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| Synonyms [1] | |
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Calappa hepatica is a common benthic crab of tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Red Sea.[2] It is also known as the box crab, shame-faced crab or the tortoise crab, the last two names referring to the animal's appearance, with its two chelipeds (claw-bearing limbs) being used to shield the "face", giving the crab almost impregnable armour. The carapace is covered in small lumps, and is generally white to golden in colour.