Little Shore Crab

About

Found along Tomahawk Beach under rocks at low tide this crab is less common now days due to invasive crabs such as New Zealand Half Crab (Petrolisthes elongatus)

Similar Species include Paragrapsus laevis, Paragrapsus gaimardii, Leptograpsodes octodentatus

Like all the other shore crabs they feed on the decaying fish and seaweeds found along our beaches and scurry away to find shelter when disturbed.

Identification

Often confused with the juveniles of other crabs in this family, this small crab has a mottled brown green to grey body and features three small notches behind the eye on the side of the carapace The first of the notches is slightly more forward (closer to the eye) than the last two set on a slight angle the front of the carapace is angled downwards with eyes that are black with white spots at the corner of the carapace. The walking legs with a single spine on the distal end of the merus, chelipeds with a mat of hairs on the inner and outer surfaces.

Size

Can grow to around 20mm across the carapace

Habitat

Can be found under rocks in the inter-tidal zone out to a depth of 10m

Distribution

South-eastern Australia including around Tasmania

How to Identify

A small shore crab with black eyes with white spots

This small shore crab often confused with juveniles of other crabs can be identified by its eyes that are black with white spots this along with the anterolateral margin of the carapace featuring three short spines or teeth the largest set slightly more posterior than the first two

Gallery

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Local Sightings

1 recorded sighting in and around the area.

References & citations (2)

1. The Atlas of Living Australia (accessed 2025-04-03 09:34:49)
2. WoRMS (2021). Brachynotus spinosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1853). (accessed 2021-09-22 14:03:33)