Calappa calappa

Calappa calappa, also known as the smooth box crab or red-spotted box crab, is a tropical marine species of crab with an Indo-Pacific distribution, and showing great variability in its patterning and colouration. First described as Cancer calappa by Linnaeus in 1758 from a specimen originating from Ambon Island, and later in 1781 as Cancer fornicatus by Fabricius, it was finally placed in the genus Calappa by Lancelot Alexander Borradaile in 1903.[1][2] The name calappa is associated with kelapa, the Malay word for 'coconut'.[3]

Calappa calappa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Calappidae
Genus: Calappa
Species:
C. calappa
Binomial name
Calappa calappa

Description

Occurring in the intertidal zone to a depth of 50 m, this species has a carapace of about 15 cm, indistinctly rugose on the anterior half, with wavy lines edging the posterior. It is active during the night hours, and is able, when threatened, to swiftly burrow beneath the sand. It feeds mainly on mollusks such as clams, steadying them with its legs and then, using its pincers, either prising the valves apart or breaking them.

Distribution

This species can be found in Mombasa, Seychelles, Aldabra Island, Madagascar, Mauritius, Andamans, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Palau, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Shark Bay, Abrolhos Islands, New Caledonia, Hawaiian Islands, Marquesas, Society Islands.[4]

  • front view
    front view
  • Mottled specimen, view from above
    Mottled specimen, view from above
  • View from above
    View from above

References
  1. Peter Davie (2013). "Calappa calappa (Linnaeus, 1758)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  2. "Calappa calappa". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15.
  3. Galil, Bella S. (1997). "Crustacea Decapoda: A revision of the Indo-Pacific species of the genus Calappa Weber, 1795 (Calappidae)" (PDF). Mémoires du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. 176: 273.
  4. "Marine Species Identification Portal : Calappa calappa".
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