Cardisoma armatum

Cardisoma armatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Infraorder:	Brachyura
Family:	Gecarcinidae
Genus:	Cardisoma
Species:	C. armatum
Binomial name
Cardisoma armatum Herklots, 1851

Cardisoma armatum is a species of terrestrial crab. It is sometimes referred to as the (African) rainbow crab, (Nigerian) moon crab or patriot crab. Adults are sometimes labelled as soapdish crabs in the pet industry. This name derives from their aggressive nature as adults and when being shipped to pet stores, they are often packed in soap dishes to prevent them from killing each other. When young, these crabs typically have a blueish/violet carapace, red–coloured legs, and whitish claws. This coloration usually fades as the animal grows older. The names moon crab and soapdish crab are sometimes applied to other similar crab species as well, leading to frequent confusion with other colourful crabs such as the two remaining species of Cardisoma, Gecarcinus ruricola and G. quadratus from the Americas. Cardisoma armatum originates from Africa, particularly near the Volta river delta. They can reach a carapace size of 20 cm across, although captive individuals rarely reach this size. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, vegetation and carrion. They are known to be cannibalistic, and will consume smaller crabs, small reptiles and amphibians, molluscs, fish, and insects if they can catch them. While juvenile and adult crabs spend most of their time on dry land, the must return to the ocean to release their eggs. The eggs hatch into microscopic larvae, and later own develop into young crabs. If the young do not make landfall by the time they are fully developed they will drown.

External links

• Matt Clarke (2005-11-14). "Rainbow crab, Cardisoma armatum". Practical Fishkeeping. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• D. Warren. "Cardisoma armatum". Retrieved 2007-07-16.