Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda

(Latreille, 1802)

Vernacular names
English : Mangrove horseshoe crab
French : Limule à queue ronde

Classification
Class : Merostomata
Order : Xiphosurida
Family : Limulidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Front part of body resembles a horse’s hoof in shape. The smallest horseshoe crab species, reaching less than 30 cm in length. Broad rounded front part of body. Short back spines. Coloration dark greenish brown, orange underside.

Range and habitat
The species occurs around South-east Asian coastlines, from India to Thailand, Malaysia and western Indonesia, northwards to Hong Kong. Only occurs on sandy and muddy bottoms at depth down to 10 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : DATA DEFICIENT
CITES : Not listed
Status : This species is still hunted extensively and has disappeared from many areas of its range. Pollution and habitat loss are also potential threats.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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