Paraleptuca chlorophthalmus, is a common fiddler crab found in the mangroves of East Africa, from Somalia to South Africa, as well as Madagascar and Mauritius. Marsh fiddlers dig burrows in the muddy or sandy banks of salt marshes, which they use to protect themselves from predators, high tide and extreme temperatures. They feed by filtering detritus out of mud, and defend their burrows against other fiddler crabs. Paraleptuca chlorophthalmus is characterised by its red pereiopods and blue and black markings on its carapace.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Green-eyed Fiddler 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
- Paraleptuca splendida
- Gelasimus tetragonon
- Leptuca uruguayensis
- Paraleptuca crassipes
- Tubuca arcuata
- Tubuca rosea
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Decapoda
- Family
- Ocypodidae
- Genus
- Paraleptuca
- Species
- Paraleptuca chlorophthalmus
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