| Paracleistostoma wardi | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Camptandriidae |
| Genus: | Paracleistostoma |
| Species: | P. wardi |
| Binomial name | |
| Paracleistostoma wardi (Rathbun, 1926) | |
Paracleistostoma wardi is a species of crab first described as Cleistostoma wardi in 1926 by zoologist Mary J. Rathbun [1] and named after former actor, marine collector and later honorary zoologist Charles Melbourne Ward. [2] The type specimens were from mudflats in Sandgate, Queensland, Australia. It is known as Ward's hairy-legged crab, [3] with Rathbun describing it as having "Ambulatory legs" which are "densely hairy". [1] The crabs are small with holotypes 17.6 mm across the carapace and 12.2 mm long. [1] The claws are red to maroon, [4] with the upper moveable male claw (dactyl) having one tooth, at the base. [1] There is orange coloration at the front edges of the carapace behind the eyes. [4] The carapace is smooth, slightly convex, and has no teeth on the sides [1] and looks cut-off at the front edges. [4] It is found in Queensland from Moreton Bay to Cairns. [5]
