Cape rock crab

Introduction: Cape rock crabs (Plagusia chabrus) inhabit shallow reefs and pools. Their most distinguishing features are 3 marginal teeth, a smooth and velvety carapace (back shield) and the 2 notches between the eyes that support the first antennae.

Distribution: From the mouth of the Orange River north along the southern coastal Namib Desert as far as Luderitz and on to the St. Francis Bay region.

Diet: Crops low-growing seaweeds with their nippers and also feeds on small seaweed-dwelling animals.

Colouration: Red-brown with orange-yellow ridges on the legs and rows of yellow tubercles on the nippers.

Breeding: Eggs are hatched into planktonic larvae which once settled change into miniature adults.

Max size: 50mm