NEWS102
46
Thenew
Geosesarma
Thenew
Geosesarma
species is variable in coloration.
Lexicon
Colorful creepers
Hymenopus:
a combinationof theGreekwords
formembraneand foot,probably
referring to the lobe-like
appendageson the legs.
coronatus:
means“crowned”
Geosesarma:means“Earth
Sesarma”;Sesarma is another crab
genus.
the female via a species-specific
drummingwith the forelegs on her back,
which triggersablockonherurge to feed.
Andnow,anew
Geosesarma
species!
Apleasant surprisearrived from Indonesia
in mid January 2012: a new, as yet still
undetermined, very attractive crab; all the
indications are that it belongs to the
genus
Geosesarma
, popular in the
terrarium. Unlike the
Geosesarma
species
known hitherto (eg the Vampire Crab
(
Geosesarma
sp.), Orange Crab (
G.
krathing
),MandarinCrab (
G.notophorum
),
the new crabs have dark eyes. Otherwise
these crabs are much the same size (2-3
cm carapace diameter), and, on the basis
of terrarium observations to date,
correspond well with their familiar
relatives.
The new species has violet claws, black
legs,anddarkeyes;theanteriorpartof the
carapace is fox red to red-brown, the
posterior bright yellowwith a black spot
of variable size in the center.
Amphibious crabs
Geosesarma
species live in and by
streams, constantly switching between
land and water. For this reason they
require an aqua-terrarium with a well
matured water area, which should, if
possible, contain softwaterwitha slightly
acid to neutral pH. These crabs are
omnivores and dead leaves (oak
(
Quercus
), beech (Fagus), birch (
Betula
),
maple (
Acer
), etc.) must always be
available for them toeatwhendesired.
