Grapsus fourmanoiri Crosnier, 1965

Family: Grapsidae

Zone: This mangrove crab is found in narrow belts of mangroves (Hartnoll, 1975).

Habitat: Typical of rocky shores but occasionally found on mangrove trees (Vannini et al., 1997). In Australia, common in Bruguiera forests (Robertson and Daniel, 1989).

Food: Probably detritus and small organisms based on habitat and claw morphology. Burrows contain shredded leaves (Robertson and Daniel, 1989).

Ecological notes: Can occur together on the same tree with S. elongatum and M. oceanicus as was the case in Shimoni, Kenya where a narrow belt of S. alba is present in front of a 2-4 m limestone cliff (Vannini et al., 1997). Also burrows in mangroves (Robertson and Daniel, 1989).

Distinguishing characteristics: Greenish yellow color of carapace and leg margins; similar to G. albolineatus [carapace width ~ 3 cm] (Vannini and Valmori, 1981).

Geographical range: East Africa, but not yet defined (Hartnoll, 1975).

References:

Cannicci, S., F. Dahdouh-Guebas and L. Montemagno, 1993. Field Keys for Kenyan Mangrove Crabs. Museo Zoologico "La Specola", Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica dell'Università Degli Studi DI Firenze, Via Romana 17, I-50125 Firenze, Italia.

Hartnoll, R.G., 1975. The Grapsidae and Ocypodidae (Decapoda: Brachyura) of Tanzania. J. Zool. Lond. 177:305-328.

Robertson, A.I. and P.A. Daniel, 1989. The influence of crabs on litter processing in high intertidal mangrove forests in tropical Australia. Oecologia 78: 191-198.

Vannini, M. and P. Valmori, 1981. Researchers on the coast of Somalia. The shore and the dune of Sar Uanle. 30. Grapsidae (Decapoda Brachyura). Monitore Zoologico Italiano 6: 57-101.

Vannini, M., A. Oluoch and R.K. Ruwa, 1997. Tree-climbing decapods of Kenyan mangroves. In Kjerfve, Björn, Luiz Drude de Lacerdaand El Hadji Salif Diop (eds.). Mangrove ecosystem studies in Latin America and Africa. UNESCO Technical Papers in Marine Science, Paris, France: 325-338.

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