Leptomithrax gaimardii

Leptomithrax gaimardii (common name - Great spider-crab) is a species of crab in the Majidae family, first described by Henri Milne-Edwards in 1834 as Paramithrax gaimardii,[3][4] from a specimen (erroneously said to be) found in New Zealand waters[3] by Joseph Paul Gaimard who is honoured by the species epithet.[4]

Leptomithrax gaimardii
Source[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Majidae
Genus: Leptomithrax
Species:
L. gaimardii
Binomial name
Leptomithrax gaimardii
Synonyms[2]

Leptomithrax spinulosus Haswell, 188
Paramithrax (Leptomithrax) australiensis Miers, 1876
Paramithrax gaimardii H.Milne Edwards, 1834

It is found in coastal waters of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.[3][2]

Description

This crab has a red-brown rounded carapace up to 16 cm wide and has a leg span of up to 40 cm.[1] Sometimes seaweed and sponges attach to its body. [1]

When breeding these crabs form groups of often greater than 100 crabs, Breeding occurs just before winter moulting when they are vulnerable to predation because of their soft shells. The large congregations make them less vulnerable.[1] The crab is a scavenger, and is found in seaweed, reef and sand areas at depths of up to 820 m.[1]

References
  1. "Leptomithrax gaimardii (Milne Edwards, 1834), Giant Spider Crab". Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  2. "Leptomithrax gaimardii (H.Milne Edwards, 1834)". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  3. "Australian Faunal Directory: Leptomithrax gaimardi". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  4. Milne-Edwards, H. (1834), Histoire naturelle des crustacés : comprenant l'anatomie, la physiologie et la classification de ces animaux. (in French), vol. 1, Paris: Librairie encyclopédique de Roret, p. i-xxxv, 1-468 [325], doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.16170, OCLC 3681334, Wikidata Q51422561
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