Cardisoma
Encyclopedia
Cardisoma is a genus of large land crab
s. Three species formerly placed in this genus are now placed in Discoplax
. The four species that remain in Cardisoma are found in warm coastal regions where they live in burrows. Young individuals are often very colourful with a purple-blue carapace
and orange-red legs (leading to a level of popularity in the pet trade), but as they grow older the colours tend to fade, and females may be duller than males. Although less extreme than in fiddler crab
s, one claw is usually considerably larger than the other. They are omnivore
s, but primarily feed on plant material.
Land crab
Gecarcinidae is a family of true crabs that are adapted for terrestrial existence, commonly known as land crabs. Similar to all other crabs, land crabs possess a series of gills. In addition, the part of the carapace covering the gills is inflated and equipped with blood vessels. These organs...
s. Three species formerly placed in this genus are now placed in Discoplax
Discoplax
Discoplax is a genus of terrestrial crabs. It is very closely related to the genus Cardisoma.Four species are currently recognised:*Discoplax gracilipes Ng & Guinot, 2001*Discoplax hirtipes...
. The four species that remain in Cardisoma are found in warm coastal regions where they live in burrows. Young individuals are often very colourful with a purple-blue carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
and orange-red legs (leading to a level of popularity in the pet trade), but as they grow older the colours tend to fade, and females may be duller than males. Although less extreme than in fiddler crab
Fiddler crab
A fiddler crab, sometimes known as a calling crab, may be any of approximately 100 species of semi-terrestrial marine crabs which make up the genus Uca. As members of the family Ocypodidae, fiddler crabs are most closely related to the ghost crabs of the genus Ocypode. This entire group is composed...
s, one claw is usually considerably larger than the other. They are omnivore
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
s, but primarily feed on plant material.
Species
The genus Cardisoma comprises these four species:- Cardisoma armatumCardisoma armatumCardisoma armatum is a species of terrestrial crab.-Names:It is sometimes referred to as the rainbow crab, moon crab or patriot crab. Adults are sometimes labelled as soapdish crabs in the pet industry...
Herklots, 1851 – (African) rainbow crab, (Nigerian) moon crab or patriot crab: found in east Atlantic coastal regions - Cardisoma carnifexCardisoma carnifexCardisoma carnifex is a species of terrestrial crab found in coastal regions from the east coast of Africa and the Red Sea across the Indo-Pacific to the Line Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago. The range includes parts of northern Australia and the Cocos Islands....
(HerbstJohann Friedrich Wilhelm HerbstJohann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst was a German naturalist and entomologist from Petershagen, Minden-Ravensberg....
, 1794) – red-claw crab: found in Indo-PacificIndo-PacificThe Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
coastal regions - Cardisoma crassumCardisoma crassumThe mouthless crab, Cardisoma crassum, is a species of terrestrial crab found in the coastal tropical eastern Pacific from Baja California to Peru. It has a purplish-blue shell, red legs and white main pincer. "Cardisoma crassum is common among mangrove roots, where it builds its burrow. It also...
SmithSidney Irving SmithSidney Irving Smith was an American zoologist.-Private life:Sidney Smith was the son of Elliot Smith and Lavinia Barton. His brother in law was Addison Emery Verrill. Smith married Eugenia Pocahontas Barber in New Haven, Connecticut on June 29, 1882...
, 1870 – mouthless crab: found in east Pacific coastal regions - Cardisoma guanhumiCardisoma guanhumiCardisoma guanhumi, also known as the blue land crab, is a species of land crab found in tropical and subtopical estuaries and other maritime areas of land along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, from Brazil and Colombia, through the Caribbean, to the Bahamas, and as far north as Vero Beach,...
LatreillePierre André LatreillePierre André Latreille was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis...
, 1825 – blue land crab or giant land crab: found in west Atlantic coastal regions