| Metopograpsus messor | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Grapsidae |
| Genus: | Metopograpsus |
| Species: | M. messor |
| Binomial name | |
| Metopograpsus messor (Forsskål, 1775) | |
| Synonyms [1] [2] | |
| |
Metopograpsus messor is a species of grapsid crab that lives in mangroves from East Africa to Fiji.
It grows up to 30 millimetres (1.2 in) wide. [3] The carapace and legs are mottled brownish green, while the claws are brownish red. [4]
The distribution of M. messor extends from East Africa, along the coast of the Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and at least as far east as Fiji. [5] Knowledge of its distribution has been clouded by confusion between M. messor and M. thukuhar , which can only be told apart by detailed examination, [5] but there are reports of M. messor as far east as the Hawaiian Islands.
Metopograpsus messor lives in mangroves (including Avicennia marina and Sonneratia alba ), as well as on rocky shores. [4] It lives under rotting wood, and is capable of climbing trees. [4]
Metopograpsus messor was first described under the name Cancer messor by Peter Forsskål in 1775, in his Descriptiones Animalium, Avium, Amphibiorum, Piscium, Insectorum, Vermium, based on material he collected at Suez. [6]
The year 1775 in science and technology involved some significant events.
Peter Forsskål, sometimes spelled Pehr Forsskål, Peter Forskaol, Petrus Forskål or Pehr Forsskåhl was a Swedish explorer, orientalist, naturalist, and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus.
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