Metasesarma obesum

Not to be confused with Pachygrapsus marmoratus.

Metasesarma obesum
A preserved specimen of M. obesum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Brachyura
Family:	Sesarmidae
Genus:	Metasesarma
Species:	M. obesum
Binomial name
Metasesarma obesum (Dana, 1851)
Synonyms [1]
Sesarma obesum Dana, 1851 Holometopus obesus (Dana, 1851) Metasesarma granularis Heller, 1862 Metasesarma rousseauxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 Sesarma rousseauxi (H. Milne Edwards, 1853)

Metasesarma obesum, also known as the marble crab ^[2] or marble Batik crab, ^[3] is a species of sesarmid crab. ^{[1] [2]} It is a semiterrestrial and brackish-water crab that lives on sandy beaches. ^[4]

Distribution

Metasesarma obesum is known from the shores of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. ^{[2] [5]}

Description

The neotype is a male measuring 14.3 mm × 13.5 mm (0.6 in × 0.5 in). ^[5]

In aquaria

They are occasionally found in the aquarium trade. They require land area, hiding places such as leaf litter or driftwood, and shallow brackish/salt water. It is omnivorous and generally peaceful to tankmates and conspecifics, however it might fight with conspecifics if it does not have enough space. ^{[3] [6]}

References

1. "Metasesarma obesum". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 6 January 2022.
2. "Metasesarma obesum (Dana, 1851)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 6 February 2023.
3. "Marble Batik Crab (Metasesarma obesum)". aquaticarts.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
4. "Marble Crabs Metasesarma obesum | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine". Home | TFH Magazine. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
5. Ng, Peter K. L. & Schubart, Christoph D. (2003). "On the identities of Sesarma obesum Dana, 1851, and Sesarma eydouxi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae)". Zoosystema. 25 (3): 425–437.
6. "Batik Crab (Metasesarma obesum)". Aqua Imports. Retrieved 2022-01-06.