General Description
Body partially or fully covered by pieces of seaweed, sponges and other colonial animals. Body pear-shaped with a pair of spikes in front. Legs and claws short, usually held underneath the body. Up to 4 cm long (carapace).
Biology
Small Seaweed Crabs pick algae and sponges from the rocks and attach them with glue or hooks to their back and legs. A number of related "decorator" crabs live in southern Australia, differing in the shape of ridges and spines above the eyes.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
Sheltered areas on rocky shores.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Body covered with seaweed or sponges.
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Colours
Yellow, Brown, Green
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Habitats
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Diet
Carnivore
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Diet Categories
Animal matter
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened 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)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Filhol, 1885)
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Common Name
Small Seaweed 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
minor
