Soldier Crab

Mictyris platycheles

Systematics: Brachyura Family Mictyridae

Distinguishing Characters:
The carapace is walnut shaped, up to 15 mm wide and tall, and blue to blue-grey.

Habitat and Distribution:
Soldier crabs occur on flat intertidal sand or mudflats in large numbers. The species ranges from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania.

General Biology:
Mictyrids are known as soldier crabs because they occur in large dense armies. During low tide when exposed to the air the crabs walk and scavenge over the surface of the sand. When disturbed all the animals quickly burrow under the surface, corkscrewing into an instantly made shallow cavity in the sand.

Feedback and queries should be sent to the Discovery Centre at Museum Victoria.
Please note, the Discovery Centre can help you only with questions about crustaceans from southeastern Australia. It can not advise on the care of pet hermit crabs or on crustaceans from other regions.