DISSEMINATION
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DISSEMINATION |
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| Kingdom | Animalia | 
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| Phylum | Crustacea | |
| Class | Eumalacostraca | |
| Order | Decapoda | |
| Family | Grapsidae | |
| Genus | Pachygrapsus | |
| Species | marmoratus | |
| Classification | Fabricius, 1787 | |
| Common name | marbled rock crab | |
| Size | up to 40 millimeters long |
| Geographic Range | common in Mediterranean Sea, in Atlantic Ocean (coasts of France and Morocco). |
| Physical Characteristics | it is violet brown to almost black in colour with a marbled pattern of yellowish brown. The carapace is almost square and slightly broader than long, with distinct diagonal ridges visible. It has a convex shape both longitudinally and transversely. The chelipeds are large and slightly unequal in size. The male chelipeds are more robust than those of the female. The segment closest to the carapace (merus) on the walking legs are prominent, and the last segment (dactyl) has small spines. |
| Behaviour | it can resist long periods out of the water. It is very fast in movements, this is why it is also called "running crab". |
| Habitat | it occurs on rocks in the upper to middle shore. |
| Reproduction | it is very prolific, the main reproduction period is summer (July, August) when the water temperature reach 17 °C; incubation lasts 25 days. Tha crab can live up to 3 years (rarely 4) and usually the females lays the eggs inthe second year. |
| Sources | |
| References | Acquario Comunale di Grosseto MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network for Britain & Ireland |
| Web References | http://www.gol.grosseto.it/puam/comgr/acquario/
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| Source of the photo | http://www.horta.uac.pt/ |
Pachygrapsus marmoratus
