About Paragrapsus laevis (Dana, 1851)
Paragrapsus laevis, a crab species commonly called the mottled shore crab, is found in southeastern Australia. Its range stretches from southern Queensland to around the South Australian border, and it also occurs in Tasmania. This crab’s carapace reaches roughly 35 to 40 millimeters across. Each side of the carapace has two notches behind the eye, and it has two distinct, well-defined lobes. Its upper claw surfaces are reddish, while the undersides are whitish. Individual Paragrapsus laevis are redder and slightly smaller than Paragrapsus gaimardii. Males of this species have noticeably larger claws than females. Paragrapsus laevis inhabits tidal shores, sheltered bays, and estuaries, and does not occur far inland. It can be found in burrows in mangrove areas, as well as under debris or rocks. Chasmagnathus laevis and Paragrapsus verreauxi are previously used synonyms for Paragrapsus laevis.
