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Guinusia chabrus, Warrior Rocks,
Mt. Maunganui, 2015. |
The red rock crab (
Guinusia chabrus (Linnaeus, 1758)), is found at and below low tide (down to ~25m) on exposed coasts around New Zealand. It has a wide distribution, being found almost circum globally in at temperate latitudes in the southern hemisphere, which suggests a long planktonic larval stage.
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| Guinusia chabrus, The Blue Pool, south Piha. |
They can get quite large (~50 mm across the carapace). However, despite its size it's quite a timid, fast-moving crab. They will avoid sunlight, preferring to stay under ledges or beneath seaweed, on which it feeds (they are also know to scavenge carrion). They grow quite quickly and apparently can reach full size within a year.
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| Guinusia chabrus, Lion Rock, Piha. |
More info:
NIWA's crab guide
https://www.niwa.co.nz/static/web/coastal_crabs_2015.pdf
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