Episesarma versicolor

(Tweedie, 1940)

Vernacular names
English : Violet vinegar crab
French : Crabe vinaigre violet

Classification
Class : Malacostraca
Order : Decapoda
Family : Sesarmidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to about 5 cm in length. Carapace is square-shaped and dorsally flattened. Coloration is brown to brownish-grey. Lower flanks and legs are bright purple-violet with white fingers and pincers.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in South-east Asia, in coastal regions from India and Sri Lanka to south China, south to Indonesia and northern Australia. Mostly found in coastal mangroves.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species hasn’t been assessed by IUCN and seems to be locally very common within its large range. It is, however, an habitat specialist.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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