Maja capensis

Maja capensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Majidae
Genus: Maja
Species: M. capensis
Binomial name
Maja capensis
Ortmann, 1894

Maja capensis, the Agulhas spider crab, is a species of crab in the family Majidae.[1]

Distribution

The Agulhas spider crab is known from the west coast of Africa and round the South African coast to Durban[2] in 2–100 m of water.

Description

The Agulhas spider crab may grow to 100 millimetres (3.9 in). It has an orange to red carapace covered with short spines and protruding granules, and is often camouflaged with attached animals. It has two double-pointed projections extending between its eyes. The front margins of its carapace are serrated.[3]

References

  1. ^ Peter K. L. Ng, Danièle Guinot & Peter J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 17: 1–286. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s17/s17rbz.pdf. 
  2. ^ P. Davie & C. Fransen (2010). "Maja capensis Ortmann, 1894". World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=246170. Retrieved July 21, 2010. 
  3. ^ K. H. Barnard (1950). "Descriptive catalogue of the South African decapod Crustacea (crabs and shrimps)". Annals of the South African Museum 38: 1–837.