| Paragrapsus laevis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Varunidae |
| Genus: | Paragrapsus |
| Species: | P. laevis |
| Binomial name | |
| Paragrapsus laevis (Dana, 1851) | |
Paragrapsus laevis is a species of crab found in south eastern Australia, from southern Queensland to around the South Australian border, including Tasmania. [1]
It is commonly known as the mottled shore crab. [2] Carapace is up to around 35 [3] to 40mm across, [2] with two notches in each side behind the eye, and has two well defined lobes. Claws are reddish on top, whitish underneath. Paragrapsus laevis individuals are redder and a little smaller than Paragrapsus gaimardii individuals. Males have significantly large claws compared to females. [3]
It lives on tidal shores, in sheltered bays or in estuaries, but not far inland. It can be found in mangroves in burrows and under debris or rocks. [4]
Chasmagnathus laevis, Paragrapsus verreauxi are previous synonyms of Paragrapsus laevis. [1]
