About Homalaspis plana (H.Milne Edwards, 1834)
Homalaspis is a genus of crabs belonging to the family Platyxanthidae. This genus is monotypic, meaning it contains only one single species: Homalaspis plana. This species is commonly known by two common names: the purple stone crab and the Chilean stone crab. Homalaspis plana is naturally distributed in the East Pacific, ranging from the Galápagos Archipelago down to southern Patagonia. There is only one single recorded observation of this species from the west coast of South Africa, which is most likely the result of introduction via shipping or aquaculture imports. This species can be found living from the intertidal zone down to a depth of 272 meters, or 892 feet. Homalaspis plana is recognized as a commercially valuable species.
