| Lophozozymus pictor | |
|---|---|
| |
| A Lophozozymus pictor crab eating a clam | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Xanthidae |
| Genus: | Lophozozymus |
| Species: | L. pictor |
| Binomial name | |
| Lophozozymus pictor (Fabricius, 1798) | |
Lophozozymus pictor, the mosaic reef crab is a species of crab in the family Xanthidae.
Description and etymology
The word "pictor" in Latin means painter.
Its appearance is a body of 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in), somewhat fan-shaped and usually red to orange with strikingly mosaic-like patterns of large white spots. Its pincers are short, both about equal size, with black tips. It has walking legs that are hairy with pointed tips.
Distribution and ecology
Lophozozymus pictor is found in China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and lastly, French Polynesia. (native)
In the Philippines, this is known as Calintugas. It lives along the coral areas of Batangas, Mindoro, Sorsogon, Negros Oriental, and Samar.
Toxicity
This is known to be one of the most poisonous crabs in the world. Its neurotoxin is not denatured by heat even when cooked.
References
- "Mosaic reef crab (Lophozozymus pictor)". www.wildsingapore.com. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
- "Country List - Lophozozymus pictor". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- Rontas, Darlene Yap. "Not all crabs are safe to eat". www.bar.gov.ph. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- "Lophozozymus pictor, mosaic reef crab". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Lophozozymus pictor | |
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories. Please help out by adding categories to it so that it can be listed with similar articles. (December 2024) |
 | This Eubrachyura article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |