Platypodiella spectabilis
| Platypodiella spectabilis | |
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| Species: | P. spectabilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Platypodiella spectabilis (Herbst, 1794)
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Platypodiella spectabilis, known as the gaudy clown crab, or simply the clown crab is a small species of crab in the family Xanthidae that is native to the Gulf of Mexico.
Description[edit]
P. spectabilis is relatively small, with a carapace of up to 3 cm in width. The shell is typically bright orange, with bilaterally symmetrical patches of cream with blue rims and dots. This brilliant appearance leads to the crab's common name.
Distribution and habitat[edit]
This species inhabits coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, typically on or near zoanthids and sponges. They can be found from around 0.5 - 50m.
Human uses[edit]
Due to its small size, P. spectabilis is of no use to humans as a source of food. It is instead favoured in the pet trade as an aquarium pet, mostly for its striking appearance and easy husbandry.
References[edit]
- "Platypodiella spectabilis (Herbst, 1794)". World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=422143
- https://reefguide.org/keys/platypodiellaspectabilis.html
- http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=zsao&id=3841
External links[edit]
- Photos of Platypodiella spectabilis on Sealife Collection