Matuta victor (Fabricius, 1781)
Common moon crab
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Family:  Calappidae (box crabs)
Max. size:  5 cm CW (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Southeast Asia to Fiji and New Hebrides.
Diagnosis:  Carapace rounded, with 2 long, well-developed lateral spines; anterolateral margins gently serrated. Outer surface of palm with low but distinct oblique ridge. Color: yellowish ground color with numerous fine black spots and several larger ones on carapace; legs and chelae bright yellow.
Biology:  Caught by local communities in nets, by hand or beach seines. On sandy areas (Ref. 343), and intertidal mudflats (Refs. 128960, 9773). Carnivorous and facultative scavengers. Preys mainly on crustaceans and mollusks; smaller individuals on small, soft-shelled species while larger individuals eat slow-moving invertebrates like anomurans, bivalves and gastropods (Ref. 102715). Scavenger-predator (Ref. 128960). Usually seen swimming along the tidal current. Known to burrow in sand (Ref. 9773).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 

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