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Ozius deplanatus

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Species of crab

Black finger crab
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Menippidae
Genus: Ozius
Species: O. deplanatus
Binomial name
Ozius deplanatus
H. Milne Edwards, 1834

Ozius deplanatus, commonly known as the black finger crab and the iron crab, is a species of crab found in New Zealand and Australia.

Distribution

Common around the North Island of New Zealand.

Found in Australia from Eastern Victoria to New South Wales, on Flinders Island and the Kent Group.

Also found on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

Habitat

O. deplanatus is found under boulders and among stones in the lower to mid tidal regions of the intertidal zone on sheltered rocky and gravel shores.

It is distributed sparsely, with one individual per 5 m2.

Description

Adults average 57 millimetres (2.2 in) in size with a flattened oval-shaped carapace that is wide in the front with blunt lobed edges. This can be a rusty red to chocolate brown colour with light mottling. Underside may be a paler cream colour. The antennae are dark red to brown. Claws are large with a smooth texture. Fingers may be black or brown in colour. Walking legs are pale red with golden setae or hairs.

Behaviour & Diet

The black finger crab is a scavenger feeder. It feeds on snails, half-crabs and hermit crabs. It is known to chip away at the shells of larger snails before grasping the animal with its mouth-parts. Smaller snails are crushed by the crab's large claws. It also feeds on limpets and chitons by using the tip of its claw to remove them from a rock.

It will spread its claws when started or threatened.

References

  1. ^ Carson, Sally; Morris, Rod (2017). Collins Field Guide to the New Zealand Seashore. Harper Collins Publishers (New Zealand). ISBN 978-1-7755-4010-6.
  2. ^ Wilkens, Serena; Ahyong, Shane (2015). Coastal Crabs: a Guide to the Crabs of New Zealand (PDF). NIWA Taihoro Nukurangi.
  3. ^ Edgar, Graham. (2012). Australian marine life : the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed New Holland. ISBN 9781921517174. OCLC 793720774.
  4. Bennett, Edward William (1964). The marine fauna of New Zealand: Crustacea Brachyura. RE Owen, Government Printer.
  5. ^ "Crab, Black Fingered". www.marinelife.ac.nz. Retrieved 2019-09-29.

http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=440514

https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/966640

http://www.marinelife.ac.nz/species/951

Taxon identifiers
Ozius deplanatus
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