Paracleistostoma wardi

Paracleistostoma wardi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Brachyura
Family:	Camptandriidae
Genus:	Paracleistostoma
Species:	P. wardi
Binomial name
Paracleistostoma wardi (Rathbun, 1926)

Paracleistostoma wardi is a species of crab first described as Cleistostoma wardi in 1926 by zoologist Mary J. Rathbun[1] and named after former actor, marine collector and later honorary zoologist Charles Melbourne Ward.[2] The type specimens were from mudflats in Sandgate, Queensland, Australia. It is known as Ward's hairy-legged crab,[3] with Rathbun describing it as having "Ambulatory legs" which are "densely hairy".[1] The crabs are small with holotypes 17.6 mm across the carapace and 12.2 mm long.[1] The claws are red to maroon,[4] with the upper moveable male claw (dactyl) having one tooth, at the base.[1] There is orange coloration at the front edges of the carapace behind the eyes.[4] The carapace is smooth, slightly convex, and has no teeth on the sides[1] and looks cut-off at the front edges.[4] It is found in Queensland from Moreton Bay to Cairns.[5]

References

1. Rathbun, M. J. (1926). "Brachyuran crabs from Australia and New Guinea". Records of the Australian Museum. 15 (2): 177–182. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.15.1926.808.
2. "Charles Melbourne Ward". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 2006. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
3. Davie, Peter (2011). Wild Guide to Moreton Bay and Adjacent Coasts Volume 2. Queensland Museum. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-9870555-7-6.
4. "Ward's Hairy Legged Crab" (PDF). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
5. "THE MACROPHTHALMINAE OF AUSTRALASIA". Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. 31: 195–262. 1967.

External links

• Cairns Nature Album Mangrove Walk (Includes P. wardi)