General Description
Carapace with submarginal 1-3 tall erect spines near anterolateral margin and sometimes 1 behind orbit; frontal lobes separated by deep narrow notch, each lobe with tubercles; carapace, chelipeds and walking legs with even covering of stiff hairs, no clubbed setae. 38 mm.
Biology
As the name suggests, this is the most common hairy crab intertidally where it hides under boulders. Whereas many crabs will attempt to escape when disturbed or captured, pilumnud crabs play dead, curling their legs up to look as inconspicuous as possible. Their camouflage makes them difficult to see even when rocks are turned.
Distribution
Southern temperate oceans, including southern Australia.
Habitat
Subtidal to 310 m depth.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Carapace covered with stiff hairs, rather than a soft velvet; along each anterolateral edge are three teeth ending with a sharp spine; hides under boulders.
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Maximum Size
38 mm
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Habitats
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Diet
Organic matter
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Hazards
Not harmful but a nip from large claws could be painful
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
DSE Advisory List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Depths
Shore (0-1 m), Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
Latreille, 1825
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Common Name
Common Hairy Crab
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Superclass
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Class
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Subclass
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Superorder
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Order
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Suborder
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Infraorder
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Family
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Subfamily
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Genus
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Species Name
tomentosus
