Metopograpsus messor

Description

It grows up to 30 mm wide. The carapace and legs are mottled brownish green, while the claws are brownish red.

Distribution

The distribution of M. messor extends from East Africa, along the coast of the Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and at least as far east as Fiji. Knowledge of its distribution has been clouded by confusion between M. messor and M. thukuhar, which can only be told apart by detailed examination, but there are reports of M. messor as far east as the Hawaiian Islands.

Ecology

Metopograpsus messor lives in mangroves (including Avicennia marina and Sonneratia alba), as well as on rocky shores. It lives under rotting wood, and is capable of climbing trees.

Taxonomic history

Metopograpsus messor was first described under the name Cancer messor by Peter Forsskål in 1775, in his Descriptiones Animalium, Avium, Amphibiorum, Piscium, Insectorum, Vermium, based on material he collected at Suez.

References

References

1. WoRMS. (2009). "''Metopograpsus messor'' (Forskål, 1775)". [[World Register of Marine Species]].
2. ["''Metopograpsus messor''"](http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=crabs_of_japan&menuentry=soorten&id=1661&tab=beschr ijving). Crabs of Japan.
3. Robby Kossmann. (1877). "Zoologische ergebnisse einer im auftrage der Königlichen Academie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin ausgeführten Reise in die Küstengebiete des Rothen Meeres". Wilhelm Engelmann.
4. David Gillikin & Anouk Verheyden. (January 5, 2000). "''Metopograpsus messor'' (Forskål, 1775)". A field guide to Kenyan mangroves.
5. "''Metopograpsus messor'' Messor's Shore-Crab". [[The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust]].
6. Peter Forsskål. (1775). "Descriptiones Animalium, Avium, Amphibiorum, Piscium, Insectorum, Vermium, quae in itinere orientali observavit Petrus Forskål". C. Niebuhr.