Kani maranjandu
| Kani maranjandu | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Gecarcinucidae |
| Genus: | Kani Kumar, Raj & Ng, 2017 |
| Species: | K. maranjandu
|
| Binomial name | |
| Kani maranjandu Kumar, Raj & Ng, 2017
| |
Kani maranjandu is a species of tree crab first identified in 2017.[1] K. maranjandu has, to date, only been observed in the forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India.[2][3] As of 2021[update], it is the only species in the genus Kani.
Taxonomy
[edit]Kani maranjandu represents a newly discovered genus (Kani), named for the local Kani tribe.[2] The species name maranjandu means tree crab in local language (Malayalam). The discoverers have placed the genus within the family Gecarcinucidae.[1]
Characteristics
[edit]Kani maranjandu is distinguished from other crabs of the family Gecarcinidae by its distinctive carapace and the structure of the male abdomen, as well as its very long walking legs.[1][3] The species is entirely arboreal, relying on water held in small hollows of trees for survival.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Kani maranjandu's type locality is the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is endemic to this area.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Biju Kumar, Appukuttannair; Raj, Smrithy; Ng, Peter K. L. (3 April 2017). "Description of a new genus and new species of a fully arboreal crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with notes on the ecology of arboreal crabs". Journal of Crustacean Biology. 37 (2): 157–167. doi:10.1093/jcbiol/rux012.
- ^ a b "New tree-living crab species found in Kerala". The Hindu. PTI. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
- ^ a b c "New species of tree living crab found in Western Ghats". phys.org. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Rajesh, L.; Raj, Smrithy; Pati, S.K.; Biju Kumar, A. (2017). "The freshwater crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura) of Kerala, India" (PDF). Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries. 5: 135, 140–141.
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