Red-eyed rock crab
Eriphia sebana
This crab is commonly found on rocky shores of northern Australia. It has a brown carapace and it can be recognised by the red eyes with white eye stalks.
Morphology
Carapace is rounded, with small granules on the surface and small teeth on the edges, both of which decrease in size towards the posterior side. The claws are smooth and can have a lighter cream colour on dactyls, while the walking legs are hairy. The males and females are similar in appearance, except for often larger claws in males.
Evolution
This genus resembles the crabs from the family Xanthidae but differs in males having seven abdominal segments and very long second pleopods.
Behaviour
Even though Eriphia sebana is commonly seen under rocks, on coral rubble or in rock holes it is not easy to collect as it tends to tightly wedge itself amongst the rocky substrate.
Method of reproduction
Sexual
Habitat
Marine
Intertidal or low-subtidal rocky areas
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Subclass: | Eumalacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Eriphiidae |
| Genus: | Eriphia |
| Species: | sebana |
| Name Published Year: | 1803 |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Shaw & Nodder |
| Commercial Impact: | None |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/Eriphia-sebana
Accessed 30 Apr 2025
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