Parasesarma erythrodactyla

Taxobox
name = Red-handed shore crab
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Crustacea
classis = Malacostraca
ordo = Decapoda
subordo = Pleocyemata
infraordo = Brachyura
superfamilia = Grapsoidea
familia = Grapsidae
genus = "Parasesarma"
species = "P. erythrodactyla"
binomial = "Parasesarma erythrodactyla"
binomial_authority =

"Parasesarma erythrodactyla", also known as the Red-handed shore crab, is a burrowing crab inhabiting mangrove forests in Australia and Southeast Asia. It is immediately identifiable by its bright red chelipeds (claws) and green/brown carapace.

Sesarmid crabs are generally considered to be a monophyletic taxon (that is, all genetically deriving from a common ancestor) of Grapsoidea.Recent reclassifications of the genera "Sesarma" and "Parasesarma" (both considered ployphyletic) have resulted in a reshuffling of the species, [cite journal | author = Schubart, C.D., Cannicci, S., Vannini, M. and Fratini, S. | date=2006 | title = Molecular phylogeny of grapsoid crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura) and allies based on two mitochondrial genes and a proposal for refraining from current superfamily classification | publisher = AMSA Conference Abstract Oral Proceedings | pages=26] and on benthic microalgae such as diatoms for between 20-35% of its nutrition. [cite journal | author = Oakes, J.M., Connolly, R.M. and Revill, A.T. | title = Enriched carbon isotope labelling to trace the contribution of benthic microalgae to the nutrition of consumers in mangrove forests | journal = Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research | volume = 44| issue=3 |pages= 193–199 | doi = 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2006.00354.x | year = 2006]

A type specimen exists in the Melbourne Museum Discovery Centre (object drawer 15). [cite web | author = Melbourne Museum | title = Parasesarma erythrodactyla | publisher = Discovery Centre | url= http://museumvictoria.com.au/MelbourneMuseum/DiscoveryCentre/Results/?subject=marine&searchtype=obj&topic=Marine+Life&rs=51&pgn=25/ | accessdate = 2008-06-09]

Distribution of "P. erythrodactyla" occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical regions along eastern Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea and India, also may occur along Southern Australia (to be verified).

"P. erythrodactyla" relies on mangrove leaf detritus for about 80% of its nutrition [cite journal | author = Connolly, R.M. and Oakes, J.M. | date=2007 | title = Carbon pathways in estuarine foodwebs: stable isotope evidence further enriched | journal = AMSA Conference Abstract Oral Proceedings| pages= 26] , and on benthic microalgae such as diatoms for between 20-35% of its nutrition. [cite journal | author = Oakes, J.M., onnolly, R.M. and Revill, A.T. | date=2006 | title = Enriched carbon isotope labelling to trace the contribution of benthic microalgae to the nutrition of consumers in mangrove forests| journal = AMSA Conference Abstract Oral Proceedings| pages=82 ]

References