Red Rock Crab

Plagusia chabrus

Systematics: Brachyura Family Grapsidae

Distinguishing Characters:
These crabs boast a dense clothing of hair on the body and legs. The carapace is up to100 mm wide, reddish in colour with a distinct deeply notched front. Two of the indentations are orbits of the eye, and two are notches into which the first antennae fold. There are also three very large "teeth" each side of the carapace near the front.

Habitat and Distribution:
The red rock crab lives near low-tide level on the most exposed rock platforms and rocky shores. They often submerge themselves in seaweed patches, under ledges or in crevices. The species is scattered along all the south Australian coast.

General Biology:
The red rock crab is one of the fastest moving crabs of southern Australia shore, racing about steep shores under attack from waves. Although very aggressive, the crab browses on small seaweeds.