Southern Sentinel Crab

Tasmanoplax latifrons

Sea Life Endemic IUCN: Not Evaluated

About

A crab that lives in burrows on mudflats and can easily be mistaken for Heloecius cordiformis that lives in the same environments. The Southern Sentinel Crab is less common however.

Identification

A yellowish brownish carapace that is wider than it is long with three teeth in the side of the carapace one at the eye and a further two behind that. The edges of the legs in particular the last two have fine hairs or setae. The fixed finger of the chelae is angled downwards. The eye stalks are long

Size

A carapace width of up to around 30mm

Habitat

In burrows on intertidal mudflats.

Distribution

South-eastern Australia including around Tasmania
References & citations (3)
  1. Taylor, J. and Poore, G. (2010) Tasmanoplax latifrons Southern Sentinel Crab in Museums Victoria Collections (accessed 2022-12-07 11:02:52)
  2. The Atlas of Living Australia (accessed 2022-12-07 11:03:14)
  3. WoRMS (2022). Tasmanoplax latifrons (Haswell, 1881) (accessed 2022-12-07 11:04:28)

Header image: (CC BY-NC 4.0) © Wayne Martin

Disclaimer: A lot of work goes into making sure identifications, descriptions, sizes, habitats and distribution details are as accurate as possible — but this information is ever-changing, so no guarantee is offered that it is correct or currently valid. Treat it as a guide and do a little of your own research for the latest word. Feedback and corrections are always welcome.