Only Six More Crab Species to Our Goal!
Greetings to all 1,324 members of Crabs of the World. Thanks for increasing our new total of 1,994 species, 36 more than on January 20. Every two to three months, I highlight some special observations. It's hard to choose! Our project goal is 2,000 species, and it’s exciting we only need SIX more! (Quick reminder— Everyone, please add your crab observations to this project, as they are not automatically added. Thank you so much to everyone who adds them.)
First, a focus on some species that are new to iNaturalist:
A purple and orange Freshwater Crab, Genus Sundathelphusa, possibly a yet to be described species, found by a waterfall at high elevation in The Philippines (wow!) by @albertkang:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/147069283
@uwkwaj spent years at Kwajalein and Enewetak Atolls in the Marshall Islands documenting marine life. They have just joined our project and brought several amazing new species, including some that still need confirmation for “Research Grade” (can you help?):
Here’s one of their Etisus demani (Pale Pebble Crab):
www.inaturalist.org/observations/152952072
And one of their Tylocarcinus styx (a Kelp Crab):
www.inaturalist.org/observations/153110200
Here are all their crab observations:
www.inaturalist.org/projects/crabs-of-the-world/contributors/uwkwaj
And now, some other not new, but noteworthy crabs and photos:
Great photos of a Dardanus sanguinocarpus (Bloody Hermit Crab) identified by @grahammcmartin and photographed by @glen_whisson thousands of miles out of range near Perth, Australia:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/150490271
A wonderfully detailed photo of a Stenorhynchus seticornis (Yellowline Arrow Crab) by @djscho in the Cayman Islands:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/149276357
Two magnificent Left-handed Hermit Crabs by @billybs in the Galapagos:
an Aniculus elegans:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/150741527
and a Trizopagurus magnificus:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/131229989
A magical, colorful Pilumnus villosissimus by @dennisthediver in the Canary Islands, Spain:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/152151371
A Dardanus pedunculatus (Anemone Hermit Crab) who couldn’t find a shell and burrowed in the sand (!) by @michaeljohnson8 in The Philippines:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/152788989
I was fascinated by the Cyclocoeloma tuberculatum (Corallimorph Decorator Crab) with its astonishing decorations by @emma_brown1 in The Philippines:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/152906468
and then saw several other excellent observations of this same photogenic species in The Philippines, including:
by @pincetczy:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/134850493
by @paul_isotope:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/95841146
And here are two more beautiful ones in Indonesia, one by @popaul:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/148457568
and another by @tantsusoo:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/9327756
Remains of a Metacarcinus magister (Dungeness Crab) who became part of a River Otter’s meal in Alaska by @hfb:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/149356382
A gorgeous Tiaramedon spinosum (Thorny Crinoid Crab) by @rafi1 in Israel:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/150715166
Fabulous closeup photos of two rarely photographed crabs by @caleidoskopable in Indonesia—
Lupocyclus philippinensis (a Swimming Crab):
www.inaturalist.org/observations/150724932
and Porcellanella haigae (Haig’s Porcelain Crab)
www.inaturalist.org/observations/150679631
And an amazing conglomeration of Leptomithrax gaimardii (Great Spider Crabs) by @imogenisunderwater in Australia:
www.inaturalist.org/observations/150718226
These are just a few of the extraordinary crabs you’ve all observed! Please notify me if you see any crabs new to iNaturalist or of interest. I’ll report on them in the next post. Thanks! Wendy @wendy5
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