Kerala reports discovery of new crab species
Q. Researchers at the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala have discovered how many new species of crabs on 24th October 2015?- Published on 26 Oct 15a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
ANSWER: 4
Researchers at a Kerala University has discovered 4 new species of crab from Kerala coast, indicating crustacean diversity in the state. Discovery of three hermit crabs namely Paguristes luculentus, Diogenes canaliculatus, Pagurus spinossior, and a crab species Afropinnotheres ratnakara has been indicated. The first of the species was collected off coast of Kollam representing the ninth known genus in India. The species name luculentus is concerned with the living colour of the crustacean. The second species is light brown or tan while the third species is a right handed crab tan in colour. A new species of pinnoterid crab was found within a brown mussel. The species is called ratnakara which means Indian Ocean in Sanskrit. Close to 40 species of crabs were documented from the coast of Kerala at the time of this research project.
