PORT PHILLIP BAY


Small Seaweed Crab 

Notomithrax minor (Filhol, 1885)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Carapace pear-shaped, strongly narrowing anteriorly, with hooked setae, with tubercles and spines in dorsal midline, protogastric region smooth; 7 marginal branchial spines. Rostral spines diverging. Supraorbital margin comprising eave without (rarely with small) preorbital, with prominent antorbital and intercalated spines, and with a postorbital spine remote from the eye and offering no protection. Basal antennal article broad, with 2 distal spines. Cheliped with carpus having poorly developed ridge on upper surface and entire well developed lateral ridge. Walking legs with propodi cylindrical.

Source: Poore, G.C.B. (2004) Marine decapod Crustacea of southern Australia. A guide to identification (with chapter on Stomatopoda by Shane Ahyong). CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, 574 pp.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Subclass:
Eumalacostraca
Superorder:
Eucarida
Order:
Decapoda
Suborder:
Pleocyemata
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Majidae
Subfamily:
Majinae
Genus:
Notomithrax
Species:
minor

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 Victoria, differing in the shape of ridges and spines above the eyes.

Habitat

Sheltered areas on rocky shores.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Crabs and allies › Crabs

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

4 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Not harmful but a nip from claws could be painful.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 706

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Taylor, J.

Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Poore, G.C.B.

Dr. Gary Poore is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Poore, G.C.B., 2011, Small Seaweed Crab, Notomithrax minor, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jul 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/4002

Text: creative commons cc by licence