Hitchhiker Crab

[returnofsid]

Finally caught the bugger. I've been slowly working on the 40, getting it cleaned up, as I move corals back into the 200. About a month or so ago, I saw this crab, but couldn't catch it. I knew I was going to be tearing into the 40 soon, so didn't try any of the known crab trapping tricks. I just figured when I started cleaning up the 40, I'd find and catch it. I didn't plan for it to take this long...lol. In the meantime, I believe this guy is to blame for the disappearance of several Zoanthid colonies. I have no idea where this guy came from, as there's been nothing at all added to this tank, in over a year...lol. Musta been tiny when it was introduced.

I've tentatively Id'd it as a Atergatis floridus. A. floridus is a member of the Xanthid family, commonly called Xanthid Egg Crab. Not sure where the "floridus" comes from, since they're mainly found around Australia, Hawaii, Korea, etc. and are actually listed as "Vulnerable" and Red Listed, in Singapore. Another interesting fact, I just discovered, it's not suggested you eat these guys. Their flesh is toxic and the toxins are similar to the neurotoxins of puffer fishes, and just as deadly.

So, this guy will be relegated to my sump.

[ToddTT]

He might be here:

Crab Hitch Hikers

[ToddTT]

If you're right, he's even got his own stamp:

[Parrothead]

Cute little f#$%^r, that's a stone crab on the stamp, good eating, down here you can trap them, and only take one claw, then release, and only during season, I'm sure the laws are different up there Sid, dine away

[returnofsid]

Todd, that's the one. I actually IDd it through a couple different sites, including, Atergatis floridus Guam 366-27

The crab on the stamp is actually Atergatis floridus. Don't know what they call them in your neck of the woods Robert, but I wouldn't suggesting "dining away," as they're flesh is toxic. lol.

[Parrothead]

Todd, that's the one. I actually IDd it through a couple different sites, including, Atergatis floridus Guam 366-27

The crab on the stamp is actually Atergatis floridus. Don't know what they call them in your neck of the woods Robert, but I wouldn't suggesting "dining away," as they're flesh is toxic. lol.

Maybe that explains the 3rd eye

Wrong crab, maybe I'm going through withdrawls, stone crab season is about 6 months out I believe

[returnofsid]

Maybe that explains the 3rd eye

Wrong crab, maybe I'm going through withdrawls, stoned crab season is about 6 months out I believe

Fixed that for you, you missed a letter.

[Parrothead]

What are you talking about

[Ninong]

A. floridus is a member of the Xanthid family, commonly called Xanthid Egg Crab. Not sure where the "floridus" comes from, since they're mainly found around Australia, Hawaii, Korea, etc.

I think you have the correct identification. I can explain where the "floridus" comes from if that will help any. "Floridus" means "flowery; made of or full of flowers" in Latin. That's the masculine form, "florida" would be the feminine form. In this instance, "floridus" is an adjective used to modify the masculine noun "Atergatis." "Ater" means poisonous in Latin. Not exactly sure what "atergatis" means but we can assume that it means something along the lines of "poisonous SOB with a flowery carapace." LOL

"Florida" is Spanish for "flowery." Same as in Latin. However, scientific names are not in Spanish. They're in Latin or Greek. So the "floridus" here is Latin for "flowery" and does not refer to the state of Florida. ;;

[Ninong]

What are you talking about

He added a 'd' to the end of 'stone.'

[Parrothead]

He added a 'd' to the end of 'stone.'

Thanks Ninong, looked at my post for several minutes, reread and reread it, couldn't figure out what he was talking about, maybe it ain't the crab that's stoned

But for the record, we don have stone crabs, look alot like the pic, and are quite tasty

[Steve McKay]

Glad you got the crab,I like his camo pattern.