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New land crab discovered
By Tsai Tsung-hsien / Staff Reporter
A specimen of a new genus and
species of crab known as Lithoselatium pulchrum recently discovered in Kenting
National Park is pictured on Friday.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-hsien, Taipei Times
Following field research at Kenting
National Park last year, a team led by land crab specialist Liu Hung-chang (¼B¯M©÷)
said it had discovered a new genus and species of crab known as Lithoselatium
pulchrum.
The conservation division at Kenting National Park Headquarters said Liu found
the new species at the coral shores of Banana Bay (»¿¼ÆW) in Pingtung County while
documenting the discovery of 39 families of land crab at the national park.
Lithoselatium pulchrum has the shape of a trapezoid. The pincers are pink, the
back shell and four pair of legs are purple, and the hard shell is covered with
white dots. It inhabits cracks at the bottom of coral reefs, which it uses to
hide if it senses movement.
Personnel at the conservation division said that the most interesting aspect of
the newly discovered species was its unique method of reproduction.
Although the crab¡¦s spawning season is similar to that of other crabs, lasting
from July to October, the female Lithoselatium pulchrum lays fewer ¡X but larger
¡X eggs and the larvae are in a later developmental stage when they are hatched.
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