Notopus dorsipes
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| Notopus dorsipes | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Raninidae |
| Genus: | Notopus |
| Species: | N. dorsipes |
| Binomial name | |
| Notopus dorsipes | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Notopus dorsipes is a species of frog crab from the family Raninidae which has an Indo-Pacific distribution and which has recently spread into the eastern Mediterranean. It is the only extant species in the genus Notopus.
Notopus dorsipes has a carapace which is broadened anteriorly and regularly convex from side to side with no median dorsal carina. There is a transverse ridge of small spines between the larger antero-lateral spines on an otherwise smooth surface. The front border of the orbit is less than half the width of carapace at its widest point and has five fronto-orbital spines. The antero-lateral borders have a single spine. The thin eye stalk folds backwards and downwards obliquely. The dorsal border of the cheliped palm lacks spines. The fifth pereiopod, is slightly smaller compared to the preceding pereiopods. The pereiopods are fringed with long, thin bristles with a broad dactylus and a flattened merus and carpus. The carapace length is up to 25mm.[2][3] The carapace is coloured bright reddish-brown with white mottling and there is a pair of obvious spots on either side of the carapace near the middle.[4]