Kani maranjandu
Species of crab
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kani maranjandu is a species of tree-dwelling crab first identified in 2017.[1] K. maranjandu has, to date, only been observed in the forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India.[2][3] As of 2021[update], it is the only species in the genus Kani.
| Kani maranjandu | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Gecarcinucidae |
| Genus: | Kani Kumar, Raj & Ng, 2017 |
| Species: | K. maranjandu |
| Binomial name | |
| Kani maranjandu Kumar, Raj & Ng, 2017 | |
Taxonomy
Kani maranjandu represents a newly discovered genus (Kani), named for the local Kani tribe.[2] The species name maranjandu means tree crab in local language (Malayalam). The discoverers have placed the genus within the family Gecarcinucidae.[1]
Characteristics
Distribution
Kani maranjandu's type locality is the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is endemic to this area.[4]
Habitat and Diet
Kani maranjandu inhabits water-filled tree hollows in the rainforest canopies of the southern Western Ghats in Kerala. It is believed to feed on organic debris, plant material, small insects, and other microorganisms found within these tree-hole microhabitats.
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