Cyclograpsus lavauxi

Cyclograpsus lavauxi is a small, temperate crab in the Grapsidae family.[2] The adult males average 28 mm and females average 26 mm.[1] The shell, or carapace, is polished [3] and is wider than it is long.[4] On average, the crab is 9 mm long and has a width of 11 mm.[5] The brim of the C. lavauxi carapace is smooth.[3] The anterior of the carapace is linear-edged, with two eye orbits, which are curved and situated in the two frontal corners. The antennae are well-developed and are used for sensing texture, food, and sound.[6] C. lavauxi has eight legs and two large frontal pincers. Its legs are compressed, slender, and long, and have six lines of hair running the full 4mm length of the legs, which are fairly robust.[5] The first, second and third legs also have small tufts of hair between them.[4] Its long legs enable it to run at rapid speeds. Cyclograpsus spp. is agile and alert, resulting in a very mobile and versatile crab.[7]

A number of different color morphs have been observed in C. lavauxi. Their carapace can vary in color between slate blue, bluish-grey, fawn, and yellowish-brown.[1] C. lavauxi carapaces can also contain several shades of grey, green, and brown, often with dark brown and red speckles.[5] The underside of the crab is a lighter plain color than the carapace.[1] The legs display the same coloring as the carapace with brighter speckled colouring.[4]

C. lavauxi is a scavenger crab, foraging on deceased animals and plants,[3] although in most cases it is a herbivore.[5] Its general diet includes algae, drift and seaweed.[1] The crabs feed only during high tides, and are able to synchronize or modify their feeding pattern to ensure they feed under optimal conditions, maximizing their feeding hours and nutrition intake.[9]

A number of species predate on C. lavauxi, particularly bird species, due to the crabs' habiting the area where the tide does not often reach.[15] Their main predators are generalist birds such as Gulls and Kingfishers.[9] Fish species including the Smooth Hound Fish, Spined Dogfish, Terakihi, Sea Perch, Moki and Red Gurnard also occur.[16] C. lavauxi are at times able to evade predators by using their quick reactions and speed.[15]

The nematode Ascarophsis sp. and the parasitic isopod Portunion sp. are found in C. lavauxi.[17] Brockerhoff[18] found the majority of C. lavauxi are infected by the internal parasite Portunion sp. Brockerhoff's study showed the reproduction of female C. lavauxi was remarkably reduced by the parasite Portunion sp., this was believed to be because all parasitized females were castrated, although there were no visible signs of this parasite affecting mating behaviour in the males.[18] The male verse male competition was also not seen to affect the crab that was infected with the parasite Portunion sp. Brockerhoff's study also suggests that females did not avoid either the unparasitized and parasitized males due to there being no visible disadvantages to either.[18]

C. lavauxi has the ability to live successfully under large amounts of sediment. Bacon[5] found that Cyclograpsus insularum was only able to tolerate 18% of sediment underneath boulders while C. lavauxi can withstand up to 63% of sediment. C. lavauxi displays a number of other unique behavioural traits including its aggressiveness when cornered, raising its pincers to accentuate its size along with showing their paleness.[1] Its major body postures include being flat with its pincers folded and lying on the ground with its walking legs close and side-by-side. When in a raised position it places its body at a 45 degree angle with its back part still lying on the ground with pincers resting still either flat or poised at the midway mark. Its final position is the tiptoe position with its body angled and lifted off the ground and in the air, pincers still folded but held off the ground with its walking legs fully extended.[1]

C. lavauxi are usually found under stones, with their hind legs grasping stones which pushes the back half of the crab up onto the stone clasping it with its talons with the crab using its other legs to support its weight. This is in order to increase its mobility and stabilize the crab against the effects of tidal action.[1] They also use their pincers and talons to dig burrows and push stones away. These holes have been found to be between 20 and 40 mm deep under the cover of rock.[1] Further, C. lavauxi can make clicking noises with the sound acting as a sort of distant artillery.[1] It is one of the only crabs in New Zealand that can perform such an action.

C. lavauxi has evolved to become a versatile and robust species that is able to cope in extreme conditions that many species of crab in New Zealand cannot. This has resulted in an overall greater abundance and success in its population, leading it to be one of New Zealand's most common crabs.