Crab Enjoyer

Birgus, a genus of hermit crabs containing only one species: Birgus latro. The coconut crab!

(Image credit: Brocken Inaglory, Wikipedia commons)

Originally named Cancer latro by Linnaeus, the genus name is likely derived from the Latin burgus, meaning a small fort, as named by Leach in 1816. No reason was given for this change in spelling in his work A tabular View of the external Characters of Four Classes of Animals, which Linné arranged under Insecta; with the Distribution of the Genera composing Three of these Classes into Orders, &c. and Descriptions of several New Genera and Species in 1816. Latro, on the other hand, means "robber" as named by Linnaeus (so named for one of its common names: the robber crab).

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On a new genus and species of karst-dwelling freshwater crab (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Zhi Wan Tan, Qie Ooi, Peter K. L. Ng

ABSTRACT

Recent explorations of caves in Pahang, central Peninsular Malaysia yielded specimens of an unusual long-legged terrestrial, cave-dwelling crab. Morphological examinations of the specimens collected, in comparison with known species from the region suggests that they belong to a new genus and species, which are described herein.  Merapohra karsticola gen. nov. et sp. nov., is differentiated from other potamids by characters of the carapace epigastric and postorbital cristae, ambulatory legs, male thoracic sternum, male pleon, and diagnostic structure of the male first gonopod. The discovery of this new genus and species of cave-dwelling crab highlights the importance and high diversity of karst systems in Peninsular Malaysia, which are imperilled in light of ongoing quarrying and mining activities.

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Let’s all be little blue shrimp and hang out in the vibrant greenery together