Polybius pusillus
| Polybius pusillus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Polybiidae |
| Genus: | Polybius |
| Species: | P. pusillus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Polybius pusillus (Leach, 1815)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Polybius pusillus, common name dwarf swimming crab,[2] is a species of crab in the Portunidae family.[3][1]
Description
[edit]Polybius pusillus is a small, colourful species with a broad, suboval carapace having a maximum width of 25 mm (1.0 in). However, most specimens are usually less than 20 mm (0.8 in).[3][4] This species occurs in a wide range of colours.[3] The front has three sharpened tusks, directed forward.[2]
Distribution
[edit]Polybius pusillus occurs from North-West Africa, to Lofoten, Norway[3][4] including the North Sea.[2] It is found around the shores of: England, in such places as Northumberland, Yorkshire, The Wash, Thames, the eastern English Channel, Isle of Wight, Portland, Plymouth, the Scilly Isles, the Bristol Channel, Liverpool Bay; Scotland - Shetland, Orkney, Firth of Forth, Argyll and Clyde, The Minch; Ireland, occurring in and around Dublin, Belfast, County Mayo, Galway Bay, Fastnet Rock, County Cork; and elsewhere in the British Isles including the Channel Islands, Anglesey and the Isle of Man.[5]
Habitat
[edit]Specimens range intertidally up to 100 metres,[4] dwelling on sandy to stony bottoms,[3][5] but prefer gravel or stony substrates.
References
[edit]- ^ a b De Grave, Sammy (6 May 2024). "Polybius pusillus (Leach, 1816)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Marine Species: Liocarcinus pusillus". Skaphandrus.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Liocarcinus pusillus". Seawater.no. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Liten svømmekrabbe - Liocarcinus pusillus" (in Norwegian). Marinbi.com. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ a b Mario de Kluiver & Sarita Ingualso. "Liocarcinus pusillus". Macrobenthos of the North Sea - Crustacea. Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
