About Austruca annulipes (H.Milne Edwards, 1837)
Austruca annulipes is a species of fiddler crab. It can be found along coastlines ranging from South Africa to Somalia, and also occurs in Madagascar, India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This species was previously classified within the genus Uca. In 2016, it was reclassified into the genus Leptuca, which was formerly a subgenus of Uca. These are relatively small crabs, and they can be observed feeding during low tide in the evening. Males and females of this species differ in both size and appearance: larger males have a brightly colored front claw. Compared to females, and even to smaller males of what was then classified as Uca annulipes, male Austruca annulipes spend the majority of their time excavating their burrows. House crows are known to prey on these crabs. The crabs are quick to hide inside their burrows at the slightest sign of danger.
