Liocarcinus marmoreus, sometimes known as the marbled swimming crab, is a species of crab found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and North Sea.[3] It may be found on sand and gravel in the sublittoral and lower littoral zones,[4] down to a depth of 84 metres (276 ft),[5] from the Azores and the Alboran Sea (the westernmost section of the Mediterranean Sea) as far north as the Shetland Islands.[2] It reaches a carapace length of 35 millimetres (1.4 in),[5] and is distinguished from other similar species by the presence of three similarly sized teeth on the edge of the carapace, between the eyes, and by the marbled colouration on the carapace.[3] L. marmoreus is sometimes parasitised by the barnacle Sacculina.[4]

Liocarcinus marmoreus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Polybiidae
Genus: Liocarcinus
Species:
L. marmoreus
Binomial name
Liocarcinus marmoreus
(Leach, 1814)
Synonyms [1][2]
  • Portunus marmoreus Leach, 1814
  • Polybius marmoreus (Leach, 1814)

References edit

  1. ^ Peter K. L. Ng; Danièle Guinot & Peter J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06.
  2. ^ a b Cédric d'Udekem d'Acoz (2003). "Polybius marmoreus (Leach, 1814)". Crustikon – Crustacean photographic website. Tromsø MuseumUniversity of Tromsø. Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Crabs of the Southern North Sea". Sea Fisheries Department. October 8, 2001. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  4. ^ a b E. Wilson (November 10, 2006). "Marbled swimming crab - Liocarcinus marmoreus". Marine Life Information Network for Britain & Ireland. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  5. ^ a b M. J. de Kluijver & S. S. Ingalsuo. "Liocarcinus marmoreus". Crustacea: Macrobenthos of the North Sea. Universiteit van Amsterdam. Retrieved September 3, 2007.[permanent dead link]