Cape rock crab
Introduction: Cape rock crabs (Plagusia chabrus) inhabit shallow reefs and pools. Their most distinguishing features are 3 marginal teeth, a smooth and velvety carapace (back shield) and the 2 notches between the eyes that support the first antennae.
Distribution: From the mouth of the Orange River north along the southern coastal Namib Desert as far as Luderitz and on to the St. Francis Bay region.
Diet: Crops low-growing seaweeds with their nippers and also feeds on small seaweed-dwelling animals.
Colouration: Red-brown with orange-yellow ridges on the legs and rows of yellow tubercles on the nippers.
Breeding: Eggs are hatched into planktonic larvae which once settled change into miniature adults.
Max size: 50mm
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