User:PacificEcology/Grapsus longitarsis

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Grapsus longitarsis, also known as the long-legged rock crab, is a species of shore crab in the family Grapsidae.{{Cite web |title=Edmondson, C. H. (1959). Hawaiian Grapsidae. Occasional Papers of Bernice P. Bishop Museum. |url=https://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pubs-online/pdf/op22-10.pdf}} It was first described in 1851 by the American zoologist James Dwight Dana.{{Cite web |title=Grapsus longitarsis Dana, 1851. World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) |url=https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=444460}} This species occurs throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific,{{Cite web |title=Vannini, M., & Valmori, P. (1981). Researches on the coast of Somalia. Italian Journal of Zoology. |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03749444.1981.10736614}} including Hawai'i, Tuamotu Archipelago, the Cook Islands, and has been recorded in regions such as Indonesia,{{Cite web |title=Long-legged Rock Crab. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database. |url=http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/species.asp?id=7363}} and the coast of Somalia.

''Grapsus longitarsis'' is a species of marine crab in the family Grapsidae that occurs throughout tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific Ocean (World Register of Marine Species). The species was first described in 1851 by the American geologist and zoologist James Dwight Dana from specimens collected in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia (Dana, 1851). It is a benthic crab that inhabits shallow coastal environments and intertidal zones at depths of approximately 0–5 meters (Vannini & Valmori, 1981).

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=== Description ===

Grapsus longitarsis is a medium-sized crab with an adult carapace width of approximately 32–33 mm and a length of 25–29 mm. The species is physically distinguished from others in its genus by having lateral margins of the carapace that are nearly straight. The body coloration is typically pale yellow and is often marked with small reddish-brown spots. Its walking legs are notably elongated, which is a key characteristic of the species. The fingers of the claws are darker in color and feature "spooned" tips used for feeding.

'''Description'''

=== Distribution and Habitat ===

Grapsus Longitarsis has relatively smooth carapace with lateral margins that are nearly parallel in shape (Guide des crustaces). The body coloration is generally pale yellow with darker patches across the carpace, while the legs are typically yellow and the claw tips are darker in color (Guide des crustaces). The species has elongated walking legs that allow it to move efficiently across rocky coastal surfaces (Vannin & Valmori, 1981). Adult individuals are relatively small compared with other crabs, with a carapace width about 33 mm and a length of 29 mm (Vannini & Valmori, 1981).

Grapsus longitarsis is widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The species is native to several island chains, including Hawai'i, Tuamotu Archipelago, and the Cook Islands. It is also commonly found in the waters around Indonesia. Records of the species extend as far west as the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean. This crab typically inhabits high-energy coastal environments, such as wave-exposed rocky shorelines. It is a benthic species usually found in the intertidal zone at depths of 0-5 meters.{{Cite web |title=Grapsus longitarsis Dana, 1851. Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). |url=https://obis.org/taxon/444460}} During low tide, the crab is often observed within tidal pools'''.'''

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'''Distribution'''

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Grapsus Longitarsis is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region and has been recorded in Indonesia, Taiwan, the Tuamotu Archipelago, Hawai'i, and parts of the western Indian Ocean (World Register of Marine Species). The species inhabits exposed rocky shorelines, tidal pools, and coastal cliffs where it shelters in crevices and feeds on algae growing on rocks (Vannini & Valmori, 1981). It is most commonly found in intertidal habitats where it experiences periodic exposure to air and wave action (Vannini & Valmori, 1981). The species is primarily active during the daytime and is adapted to life on wave-exposed coastal platforms (Vannini & Valmori, 1981).

=== References ===

Banerjee, S. K. (1960). ''Biological Results of the Snellius Expedition''. Temminckia.

Dana, J. D. (1851). ''Conspectus Crustaceorum''. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

Guide des crustacés. Natural History Museum.

Vannini, M., & Valmori, P. (1981). ''Distribution and ecology of grapsid crabs.''

World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). ''Grapsus longitarsis.''

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