About Matuta planipes Fabricius, 1798
Matuta planipes is a species of moon crab belonging to the family Matutidae. It is a small, colorful crab with flattened limbs. Unlike other crab species, Matuta planipes inhales oxygenated water through an opening located near its eye sockets. During the daytime, this species stays hidden under cover such as a sand bed, and it is more active at night. It is native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and Australia, and has a widespread distribution that ranges from the Red Sea to South Africa, Asia, and Australia.
