Petrolisthes novaezelandiae

Petrolisthes novaezelandiae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Infraorder:	Anomura
Family:	Porcellanidae
Genus:	Petrolisthes
Species:	P. novaezelandiae
Binomial name
	Petrolisthes novaezelandiae; (Filhol, 1885)
Synonyms
	Petrolisthes stewarti Filhol, 1885

Petrolisthes novaezelandiae, known as the red half crab or red false crab, is a species of porcelain crab native to New Zealand.

Description[]

The carapace is flattened and covered in short fine hairs, length up to 12mm, width up to 12.5mm. Males appear dull reddish to tan brown, while females are greyish brown, often with small red spots. Chelae more slender than in P. elongatus, generally larger in the male.

Distribution and habitat[]

Endemic to New Zealand, where it is widely distributed down to the Auckland Islands. Usually found beneath boulders, or in shell debris. On hard shores sometimes found in the holdfasts of seaweed, especially Macrocystis sp. Rarely found in the intertidal zone, more common from 3 to 75m deep.^[2]

References[]

^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Petrolisthes novaezelandiae Filhol, 1885". Marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
^ McLay, Colin L., “Brachyura and crab-like Anomura of New Zealand”, University of Auckland, Leigh Marine Laboratory, 1988

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[1] "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Petrolisthes novaezelandiae Filhol, 1885". Marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2016-12-14.

[2] McLay, Colin L., “Brachyura and crab-like Anomura of New Zealand”, University of Auckland, Leigh Marine Laboratory, 1988

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