A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Ashtoret lunaris
These rounded crabs have eight paddle legs, allowing them to slice with ease into the sand for a quick concealment. The small crabs get stranded upside down on the beach when the fisherman empties his land net so I pick them up and take them back down to the waters edge : )
Fossils of Ashtoret have also been found in Miocene deposits in Japan - Wiki
Earlier I did not noticed side thorns properly. But they were clue for me to find specie.
Wow! That's fantastic Ashish ......... thank you for the ident ........ I knew it was'nt a Paddle crab, although the name WOULD have been very apt.
Here is clarification why this is not in the Portunidae family that I felt earlier...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matutidae
@Ashish Thank you for changing category. I've looked at Portunidae, but the claws on these crabs all paddle shaped. Have looked but not found a match so far
@Gerard - very easy to catch when they're upside down : )
@ Nopayahnah - I'm a nice person : )
Look like one of following family of Marine crabs...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portunidae
I have changed category as Arthropods...!!
Spotted on Apr 26, 2012
Submitted on Apr 26, 2012
+1
