Lithodes australiensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lithodes australiensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Anomura |
| Family: | Lithodidae |
| Genus: | Lithodes |
| Species: | L. australiensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Lithodes australiensis | |
Lithodes australiensis is a species of king crab.[1] They live in southeastern Australia, known as far north as Cape Hawke and as far south as the South Tasman Rise.[1] They have been found at depths between 540–1,312 m (1,772–4,304 ft), but they typically live between 1,000–1,100 m (3,300–3,600 ft).[1]
Lithodes australiensis is deep-red in colour.[1] It has a pyriform carapace featuring prominent, slender spines sparsely interspersed with granules on its dorsal surface.[1] The carapace has been measured as large as 199.7 mm (7.86 in)[a] in length and 127.5 mm (5.02 in) in width in males.[1][b] It has a prominent rostrum, comprising about half of the carapace length in juveniles and about one-third in adults.[1] Its chelipeds and walking legs have major spines separated by a smooth or mostly smooth surface, and the chelipeds are around half the length of the walking legs.[1] The chelae bear small spines and tubercles, and the fingers have tufts of golden setae arranged in rows.[1] Its frontmost pair of walking legs tend to be smaller than the other two, and all of its dactyli are curved.[1] On its underside, the third through fifth segments of its abdomen have a median plate featuring nodules.[1] Toward the posterior, its abdomen has a wrinkly second segment, and toward the front, it has a rounded telson.[1]
