Jump to content

Kani maranjandu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kani maranjandu
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Gecarcinucidae
Genus: Kani
Kumar, Raj & Ng, 2017
Species:
K. maranjandu
Binomial name
Kani maranjandu
Kumar, Raj & Ng, 2017

Kani maranjandu is a species of tree crab first identified in 2017.[1] K. maranjandu has, to date, only been observed in the forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India.[2][3] As of 2021, it is the only species in the genus Kani.

Taxonomy

[edit]

Kani maranjandu represents a newly discovered genus (Kani), named for the local Kani tribe.[2] The discoverers have placed the genus within the family Gecarcinucidae.[1]

Characteristics

[edit]

Kani maranjandu is distinguished from other crabs of the family Gecarcinidae by its distinctive carapace and the structure of the male abdomen, as well as its very long walking legs.[1][3] The species is entirely arboreal, relying on water held in small hollows of trees for survival.[3]

Distribution

[edit]

Kani maranjandu's type locality is the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is endemic to this area.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Biju Kumar, Appukuttannair; Raj, Smrithy; Ng, Peter K. L. (3 April 2017). "Description of a new genus and new species of a fully arboreal crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with notes on the ecology of arboreal crabs". Journal of Crustacean Biology. 37 (2): 157–167. doi:10.1093/jcbiol/rux012.
  2. ^ a b "New tree-living crab species found in Kerala". The Hindu. PTI. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  3. ^ a b c "New species of tree living crab found in Western Ghats". phys.org. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  4. ^ Rajesh, L.; Raj, Smrithy; Pati, S.K.; Biju Kumar, A. (2017). "The freshwater crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura) of Kerala, India" (PDF). Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries. 5: 135, 140–141.