Lophozozymus pictor
| Lophozozymus pictor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A Lophozozymus pictor crab eating a clam | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Xanthidae |
| Genus: | Lophozozymus |
| Species: | L. pictor |
| Binomial name | |
| Lophozozymus pictor (Fabricius, 1798) | |
Lophozozymus pictor, the mosaic reef crab is a species of crab in the family Xanthidae.
Description and etymology
The word "pictor" in Latin means painter.
Its appearance is a body of 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in), somewhat fan-shaped and usually red to orange with strikingly mosaic-like patterns of large white spots. Its pincers are short, both about equal size, with black tips. It has walking legs that are hairy with pointed tips.[1]
Distribution and ecology
Lophozozymus pictor is found in China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and French Polynesia.[2]
In the Philippines, this is known as Calintugas. It lives along the coral areas of Batangas, Mindoro, Sorsogon, Negros Oriental, and Samar.[3]
Toxicity
This is known to be one of the most poisonous crabs in the world. Its neurotoxin is not denatured by heat even when cooked.[4]
References
- ^ "Mosaic reef crab (Lophozozymus pictor)". www.wildsingapore.com. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
- ^ "Country List - Lophozozymus pictor". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ Rontas, Darlene Yap. "Not all crabs are safe to eat". www.bar.gov.ph. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ "Lophozozymus pictor, mosaic reef crab". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-01.