General Description

Carapace as long as wide, walls strongly converging ventrally; rostrum deflexed, with shallow rostral keel. Claws (chelipeds) with weakly spatulate fingers. Walking legs with 7th article (dactyli) widest at midpoint. Up to 1.5 cm wide.

Biology

Nothing is known of the biology of the Triangle Crab but it probably uses its fine claws to pick up tiny fragments of food among the algae where it hides. As with any small benthic invertebrate of soft sediments, hymenosomatids feature in the diet of demersal fishes. This western Pacific genus is represented in Australia by two species, one tropical and one temperate.

Habitat

Estuarine and low intertidal, to depths of 13 m.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including 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

15 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Harmful

Not harmful but a nip from large claws could be painful.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 1678

Conservation Status

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