Macrophthalmus pacificus is a species of sentinel crab found widely across the Indo-West Pacific Ocean, including India, Japan, Malaysia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and northern Australia.[2]
| Macrophthalmus pacificus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Macrophthalmidae |
| Genus: | Macrophthalmus |
| Species: | M. pacificus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Macrophthalmus pacificus Dana, 1851
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| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
In Australia it is found in the north from northern New South Wales to around Exmouth in Western Australia.[1] M. pacificus lives in mud in tidal zones of river mouths' adjacent mangrove forests in low tide areas. The claws of adult males are sky blue.[3] It is often found feeding in shallow still water, and in soft mud.[4]: 2 The upper claw of males has a tooth on the upper claw (dactyl). Like other Macrophthalmus species, the claws of the male are larger than those of the female.[3] The carapace is smooth and shiny, up to around 25 mm across.[5]
A synonym of Macrophthalmus pacificus is Macrophthalmus bicarinatus.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Species Macrophthalmus (Mareotis) pacificus Dana, 1851". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Macrophthalmus pacificus Dana, 1851". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ a b Peter J. F. Davie (17 February 2012). "A review of Macrophthalmus sensu lato (Crustacea: Decapoda: Macrophthalmidae) from Australia, including two new species and new records" (PDF). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 56 (1). Brisbane: Queensland Museum: 149–219. ISSN 0079-8835. Wikidata Q115789802.
- ^ Howard, Robyn (August 2011). "Identifying Crabs at Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary" (PDF). Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary Support Group. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ R. S. K. Barnes (March 1968). "Relative Carapace and Chela Proportions in Some Ocypodid Crabs (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)". Crustaceana. 14 (2): 131–136. doi:10.1163/156854068X00494. ISSN 0011-216X. JSTOR 20102925. Wikidata Q115790341.
