| Mictyris platycheles | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Mictyridae |
| Genus: | Mictyris |
| Species: | M. platycheles |
| Binomial name | |
| Mictyris platycheles H. Milne-Edwards, 1852 [1] |
|
Mictyris platycheles is a species of crab found on Australian mudflats. It is found on the east coast of Australia from Tasmania and Victoria to Queensland.[2] They live in large groups and are therefore commonly called soldier crabs.[3] Adults are 15 millimetres (0.6 in) across and similarly tall, and are coloured blue to blue-grey.[3] Mictyris platycheles get their food by picking up balls of sands and putting it in their mouths, which will filter out the nutrition the crabs need for survival.