Daldorfia horrida (Linnaeus, 1758)
Horrid elbow crab
Daldorfia horrida
photo by Poppe, Guido and Philippe

Family:  Parthenopidae (elbow crabs)
Max. size:  14 cm CL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 125 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific. Tropical and subtropical.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults are found under rocks and burried in sandy mud (Ref. 128968). The pentagon-shaped carapace and appendages are covered with spines. Pincers are unequal in size, length of which are double the size of the carapace (Ref. 128968). May contain toxins that are undectectable in tests (Ref. 107779), and thus, may not be safe to eat (Ref. 128968). Prefers sandy substrates (Ref. 2899). Subtidal (Ref. 106854). Large chela is used to crush snails and molluscan shells of hermit crabs. Reported to be mildly toxic to toxic. Toxicity of its flesh may be a result of accumulation of toxins from its diet (Ref. 102986).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  poisonous to eat
Country info:   
 

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