Atelecyclus undecimdentatus

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Atelecyclidae
Genus: Atelecyclus
Species: A. undecimdentatus
Binomial name
Atelecyclus undecimdentatus
(Herbst, 1783)

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus is a species of crab in the family Atelecyclidae.[1][2][3]

Description

The body of is quite hairy, and has a whitish to cream colour, with purple marks on the carapace. The carapace has a smooth texture and a fringe of long setae. It is and is wider than it is long, growing up to 5 cm long 6.3 cm wide. The postero-lateral margins strongly converge.[4]

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus is often very dirty which can alter its appearance. It has short antennae, being only about a quarter of the length of the carapace. The claws are similar to each other, with black tips. Both the claws and legs have many bristles.[4]

This crab is sometimes mistaken for the more common Atelecyclus rotundatus. However, Atelecyclus rotundatus can be distinguished by its finer granulations and narrower carapace.[5]

Distribution

This species is found in the coastal Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, and also rarely occurs in the Mediterranean Sea.[4]

Habitat

Atelecyclus undecimdentatus normally lives in waters around 30 metres deep on bottoms ranging from gravel to sandy mud, sometimes under rocks.[4]

References

  1. Charles Fransen & Michael Türkay. "Atelecyclus undecimdentatus (Herbst, 1783)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  2. "Atelecyclus undecimdentatus - Marine Life Encyclopedia". Habitas.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  3. "Photo of Atelecyclus undecimdentatus - # - Arthropod biology". European Marine Life. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  4. 1 2 3 4 security. "DORIS - FFESSM - Biologie et plongée - Faune et flore sous-marines et dulcicoles". Doris.ffessm.fr. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  5. "The Marine Life Information Network". MarLIN. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
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