Tasmanoplax

Tasmanoplax
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Macrophthalmidae
Subfamily: Macrophthalminae
Genus: Tasmanoplax
Barnes, 1967
Species:
T. latifrons
Binomial name
Tasmanoplax latifrons
(Haswell, 1881)

Tasmanoplax latifrons, commonly known as the southern sentinel crab, is a species of crab found on the south-east coast of Australia, from Tasmania to southern NSW, as far north as the Hunter river.[1] It inhabits tidal mudflats with seagrass, and forms burrows.[2] It is the only species in the genus Tasmanoplax.[3][4][5]

The carapace is up to about 30 mm (1.2 in) across. It can be distinguished from the semaphore crab (Heloecius cordiformis) that looks similar and is found in similar mudflat habitat, as it has notches in the side of the carapace (also described as three teeth, including one at the eye). It is yellow brown, with setae on the legs, especially the last two.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Davie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference MuseumVictoria was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ M. A. Pancucci-Papadopoulou; M. Corsini-Foka & M. Naletaki (2010). "Macrophthalmus graeffei A. Milne Edwards, 1873 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Macrophthalmidae): a new Indo-Pacific guest off Rhodes Island (SE Aegean Sea, Greece)". Mediterranean Marine Science. 11 (1): 195–200. doi:10.12681/mms.103.
  4. ^ Barnes, R.S.K. (1967). "The Macrophthalminae of Australasia; with a review of the evolution and morphological diversity of the type genus Macrophthalmus (Crustacea: Brachyura)". Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. 31 (2): 195–261, pls. 1-4. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1967.tb00367.x.
  5. ^ Griffin, D.J.G. (1969). "Notes on the taxonomy and zoogeography of the Tasmanian grapsid and ocypodid crabs (Crustacea, Brachyura)". Records of the Australian Museum. 27 (18). Sydney: Australian Museum: 323–347. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.27.1969.452. ISSN 0067-1975.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tomahawk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).