Heterozius rotundifrons

Taxobox
name = "Heterozius rotundifrons"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Malacostraca
ordo = Decapoda
infraordo = Brachyura
superfamilia = Bellioidea
familia = Belliidae
genus = "Heterozius"
species = "H. rotundifrons"
binomial = "Heterozius rotundifrons"
binomial_authority = A. Milne-Edwards, 1867

"Heterozius rotundifrons", or big hand crab, is a species of crab of the family Belliidae, endemic to New Zealand.

It is found intertidally on rocky shores, often buried in sand or gravel between pebbles and stones, where there are lower levels of silt and mud. The shell is smooth and elliptical, and its coloration is bluish-grey with patches of yellow - as it remains still after being uncovered it is easily mistaken for a pebble.

Sexes can be distinguished by the claws, in the female they are long and slender, but the in the male the right claw is much swollen.

The carapace width is up to 25 mm.

References

* Miller M & Batt G, "Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand", William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973