Maltese freshwater crab
Encyclopedia
The Maltese freshwater crab () is a subspecies of freshwater crab
, endemic to certain areas within the Maltese Islands. It is very rare and its numbers have been decreasing in recent years.
) is a decapod
(a crustacean
with 10 legs). It can grow up to 80 millimetres (3 in) in width. It is greenish-grey with some orange-yellow patches occasionally.
/ running water is present throughout the year although it does live near pools and springs too. It is found in , and San Martin in Malta
and in Valley in Gozo
.
When threatened, the crab takes shelter by hiding under rocks or stones in the water and among vegetation, or by entering the burrows it digs. These burrows are dug in mud or clay and can be more than 50 cm deep. Part of the burrow is normally flooded.
and feeds on other smaller animals such as tadpole
s. It usually feeds after sunset.
of water, drying up of streams
and because of its capture by humans.
Freshwater crab
There are around 1,300 species of freshwater crabs, distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, divided among eight families. They show direct development and maternal care of a small number of offspring, in contrast to marine crabs which release thousands of planktonic larvae. This limits...
, endemic to certain areas within the Maltese Islands. It is very rare and its numbers have been decreasing in recent years.
General features
The Maltese freshwater crab (known as the in MalteseMaltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
) is a decapod
Decapoda
The decapods or Decapoda are an order of crustaceans within the class Malacostraca, including many familiar groups, such as crayfish, crabs, lobsters, prawns and shrimp. Most decapods are scavengers. It is estimated that the order contains nearly 15,000 species in around 2,700 genera, with...
(a crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
with 10 legs). It can grow up to 80 millimetres (3 in) in width. It is greenish-grey with some orange-yellow patches occasionally.
Habitat
The Maltese freshwater crab is found where fresh waterFresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
/ running water is present throughout the year although it does live near pools and springs too. It is found in , and San Martin in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and in Valley in Gozo
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
.
When threatened, the crab takes shelter by hiding under rocks or stones in the water and among vegetation, or by entering the burrows it digs. These burrows are dug in mud or clay and can be more than 50 cm deep. Part of the burrow is normally flooded.
Food
The Maltese freshwater crab is carnivorousCarnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
and feeds on other smaller animals such as tadpole
Tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
s. It usually feeds after sunset.
Population
Sadly, the numbers of this freshwater crab are steadily declining as a result of pollutionPollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
of water, drying up of streams
STREAMS
In computer networking, STREAMS is the native framework in Unix System V for implementing character devices.STREAMS was designed as a modular architecture for implementing full-duplex I/O between kernel or user space processes and device drivers. Its most frequent uses have been in developing...
and because of its capture by humans.