Ethusa mascarone

Ethusa mascarone
Ethusa mascarone. Museum specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Section: Eubrachyura
Subsection: Heterotremata
Superfamily: Dorippoidea
Family: Ethusidae
Genus: Ethusa
Species: E. mascarone
Binomial name
Ethusa mascarone
(Herbst, 1785)
Synonyms
  • Aethusa makarone Guérin, 1832
  • Cancer mascarone Herbst, 1785
  • Dorippe mascaronius Risso, 1816

Ethusa mascarone is a species of crabs in the family Ethusidae. [1][2]

Description

The cephathorax of Ethusa mascarone is almost rectangular, it can reach a length of 15 millimetres (0.59 in) and a width of 13 millimetres (0.51 in). The body color is gray-brown, with brown lines on the carapace and transverse striae on the abdomen. Chelipeds and legs are lighter and white speckled. [3]

Legs are very long, but hind legs are shorter and are used to carry on the back a variety of objets and organisms, especially valves of bivalves, by which these crabs camouflage and protect themselves. [4]

They mainly feed on small organisms and decaying flesh of dead animals. [4]

Distribution

This species is present in the Mediterranean Sea. [5][6]

Habitat

These crabs live on sandy substrate and muddy bottom, from a few meters up to 75 m deep. [4]

References

External links


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