Floral egg crab or shawl crab
Atergatis floridus
This crab has an oval and smooth carapace that can reach 10 cm in width. It is dark green or brown with a white lace-shawl pattern (from where it gets its common name). The tips of the chelipeds are dark brown or black.
Morphology
Carapace with regions poorly defined and lacking lateral teeth. Chelipeds are similar in size, short eye stalks.
Evolution
The species is toxic, containing (like others in the family) the toxin tetrodoxin (the same found in puffer fish).
Behaviour
Largely nocturnal, tends to hide in crevices or coral rubble.
Method of reproduction
Sexual
Habitat
Marine
Found on coral or rock reefs in the low intertidal and shallow subtidal zones.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean
Life Cycle
Several planktonic larval stages.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Subclass: | Eumalacostraca |
| Superorder: | Eucarida |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Superfamily: | Xanthoidea |
| Family: | Xanthidae |
| Genus: | Atergatis |
| Species: | floridus |
| Name Published Year: | 1767 |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Linnaeus |
| Commercial Impact: | None |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/atergatis-floridus
Accessed 4 May 2025
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