Hemigrapsus crenulatus, the hairy-handed crab or papaka huruhuru, is a marine crab of the family Varunidae, endemic to the New Zealand coast, although a taxon in Chile may be conspecific. It is an intertidal species with semi-terrestrial tendencies. They are named by their characteristic setae, or patches of thick hair, on the chelipeds and legs. They can range from green to brown in coloration. Adult crabs are generally 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) wide at the carapace, although the smallest mature crabs can be around just 1 cm (0.4 in) wide. and are able to survive and reproduce in environments of widely varying salinities.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Hairy-handed Crab being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Hemigrapsus penicillatus
- Hemigrapsus takanoi
- Brachynotus sexdentatus
- Hemigrapsus oregonensis
- Gaetice depressus
- Austrohelice crassa
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Decapoda
- Family
- Varunidae
- Genus
- Hemigrapsus
- Species
- Hemigrapsus crenulatus
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