Swift-footed Crab
Scientific name: Leptograpsus variegatus
Click to enlarge image
"This is the Swift-footed Crab, a common encounter along the east coast of Australia in tidal pools and rocky shores. Here it is caught out of its element as it scuttles across the beach."
Image: Jonathon Winnel
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Leptograpsus
- Species
- variegatus
- Subfamily
- Grapsinae
- Family
- Grapsidae
- Suborder
- Pleocyemata
- Infraorder
- Brachyura
- Order
- Decapoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Subphylum
- Crustacea
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 8 cm
-
- Habitats
- intertidal
Introduction
The Swift-footed Crab is the most active and prominent crab on Sydney's rocky coast. Scurrying and darting quickly among the rocks, it can be quite difficult to catch.
Identification
The Swift-footed Crab's colour varies, although it is usually a dark olive-green or dark purple with lighter flecks on the upper surface. The large front claws are purple and white.
The Swift-footed Crab's colour varies, although it is usually a dark olive-green or dark purple with lighter flecks on the upper surface. The large front claws are purple and white. This image shows the yellow form.
Image: Roxanne Bailey© Roxanne Bailey
Habitat
The Swift-footed Crab lives on intertidal rocky shores.
Distribution
The Swift-footed Crab is found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Also New Zealand and South America.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
