Family : Grapsidae
(10 species present in Seychelles)
Subfamily : Grapsinae, Macleay, 1838
Genus : Grapsus Lamarck, 1801
Species : Grapsus tenuicrustatus Herbst, 1783
| Scientific name : | Grapsus tenuicrustatus Herbst, 1783 |
| English name : | Rock crab, Lightfooted crab |
| Creole name : | Karkasay |
| Family : | Grapsidae |
| Seychelles : | Make, Praslin, Coetivy, Aride (Anderson, 1994) |
| World : | Indo-Pacific area and from the Red sea to Natal on the African Coast (Vannini and Valmori, 1981a). |
| Ecology : | |
| Habitat : | Exposed rocky shores near the sea, usually on cliffs |
| Diet : | Algae on rocks |
| Activity : | diurnal |
| Burrowing : | No |
| Description : | |
| Size : | Carapace width : 65 mm, length : 61 mm. Their empty exoskelet can very often be obseved washed on the shore. |
| Colour : | Body and legs reddish brown marbled with green. Claws external face red, tips and internal face white (Vannini and Valmori, 1981a). |
| Morhological remarks : | Easily distinguished from the other Grapsus of this area by its white tips (Holthuis, 1977). |
| Differences in sexes : | |
| Picture : |  |
Species : Grapsus fourmanoiri Crosnier, 1965
| Scientific name : | Grapsus fourmanoiri Crosnier, 1965 |
| English name : | |
| Creole name : | Karkasay |
| Family : | Grapsidae |
| Distribution : | |
| Seychelles : | Mahe, Praslin |
| World : | Yet to be defined (Hartnoll, 1975). |
| Ecology : | |
| Habitat : | Rocky cliffs, platforms and tidal pools and under stones near the sea. |
| Diet : | Algae on rocks |
| Activity : | diurnal |
| Burrowing : | No |
| Description : | |
| Size : | Carapace width : 33 mm, length : 29 mm |
| Colour : | The greenish yellow colour of the carapace and leg margins is very characteristic. |
| Differences in sexes : | |
| Picture : |  |
Species : Grapsus longitarsis Dana, 1851
| Scientific name : | Grapsus longitarsis Dana, 1851 |
| English name : | |
| Creole name : | Karkasay |
| Family : | Grapsidae |
| Distribution : | |
| Seychelles : | Mahe, Praslin |
| World : | Known in Indonesia, Taiwan, Tuamotu and Hawai (Vannini and Valmori, 1981a). |
| Ecology : | |
| Habitat : | Rocky cliffs, platforms and tidal pools. |
| Diet : | Algae on rocks |
| Activity : | diurnal |
| Burrowing : | No |
| Description : | |
| Size : | Carapace width : 33 mm, length : 29 mm. Their empty exoskelet can very often be obseved washed on the shore. |
| Colour : | Legs yellow. Carapace yellow marbled with reddish brown. Claws yellow on both faces, tips dark (Vannini and Valmori, 1981a). |
| Differences in sexes : | |
| Picture : |  Photo from J.Poupin : Crustacea Decapoda and Stomatopoda of French Polynesia |
Genus : Geograpsus Stimpson, 1858
Species : Geograpsus grayi H. Milne Edwards, 1853
| Scientific name : | Geograpsus grayi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 |
| English name : | |
| Creole name : | |
| Family : | Grapsidae |
| Distribution : | |
| Seychelles : | Coetivy, Aride (Anderson, 1994) |
| World : | Very common in Madagascar and all the Indian Ocean islands. (Vannini and Valmori, 1981a). |
| Ecology : | |
| Habitat : | Inland on sandy soil |
| Diet : | |
| Activity : | nocturnal |
| Burrowing : | Yes |
| Description : | |
| Colour : | Blue on top of the carapace and yellow and white on the sides |
| Size : | |
| Differences in sexes : | |
| Picture : |  |
 |
Genus : Metopograpsus H. Milne Edwards, 1853
Genus : Pachygrapsus Randall, 1840
Genus : Pseudograpsus H. Milne Edwards, 1837
Genus : Percnon Gistel, 1848
These pages are far from being complete. If you have any comments, more information that could be added, found mistakes, pictures that could be added, or references of literature, please let me know. Your cooperation is highly appreciated and your contribution will be mentioned.
