The pie crust crab (Metacarcinus novaezelandiae, formerly Cancer novaezelandiae), is a species of crab found around New Zealand and south-eastern Australia.[2]
In larval form Metacarcinus novaezelandieae consumes mostly tiny plankton. Once fully grown though they are primarily carnivorous, hunting nocturnally and preying on a variety of organisms. Molluscs (bivalves, gastropods and cephalopods) make up approximately one third of its diet and are its main food source; followed by crustaceans (amphipods, isopods, crabs and shrimp) which make up about 20% of its diet. Other food sources include small fish, sea anemones, sea sponges and algae. M. novaezelandieae hunts by using its powerful chelae to catch, kill, crush and access its prey, then feeds using its mouthparts. Its claws are capable of breaking open the tough shells of molluscs allowing the crab to reach the soft mollusc body inside and feed on it. Its claws allow it to effectively kill other forms of prey such as crustaceans as well.[3]
Predators, parasites and diseasesedit
In larval form, Metacarcinus novaezelandieae is preyed upon by various fish species. As an adult, it has several main predators. Sea and shore birds (such as gulls) prey on crabs that expose themselves, often flying them up high and then dropping them to crack the tough crab exoskeleton. Larger fish with strong teeth prey upon these crabs under the water. Humans kill and eat these crabs when gathering food from the coast; as well as indirectly killing them from various industrial, scientific and commercial operations.[3]
Cultural usesedit
New Zealand Maori have historically eaten crabs as part of their kai moana (food from the ocean) diet. Crabs were an easy resource to gather as they are often found in coastal shallows, making them easily accessible sea food. M. novaezelandieae is most likely among the many species of crabs the Maori ate, as it grows to a size large enough to be considered for eating, as well as being found throughout New Zealand. Sea food including M. novaezelandieae are still claimed by Maori today as a cultural food resource.[4]
Fossil recordedit
Fossils of the species are known from the Miocene of New Zealand.[5]
Referencesedit
^Peter K. L. Ng; Danièle Guinot & Peter J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286.
^. Woodbridge School, Tasmania. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
^ abCresswell, Paul D. (1988). Feeding ecology of the New Zealand Cancer crab Cancer novaezelandiae (Jacquinot, 1853) (Brachyura: Cancridae) (Masters Thesis). University of Canterbury. doi:10.26021/5709. hdl:10092/2419.
^Fisher, K., Vallance, S. (2010). Food gathering practices at the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Canterbury Aotearoa/New Zealand. (Summer scholarship report, Lincoln University. 2010).
^Feldmann, Rodney M.; Schweitzer, Carrie E. & McLauchlan, Don (December 2006). "Additions to the records for decapod Crustacea from Motunau and Glenafric Beaches, North Canterbury, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 49 (4): 417–427. doi:10.1080/00288306.2006.9515178.
April 15, 2024
crust, crab, crust, crab, metacarcinus, novaezelandiae, formerly, cancer, novaezelandiae, species, crab, found, around, zealand, south, eastern, australia, temporal, range, miocene, recent, preꞒ, ndorsal, viewscientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom,. The pie crust crab Metacarcinus novaezelandiae formerly Cancer novaezelandiae is a species of crab found around New Zealand and south eastern Australia 2 Pie crust crabTemporal range Miocene Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NDorsal viewScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass MalacostracaOrder DecapodaSuborder PleocyemataInfraorder BrachyuraFamily CancridaeGenus MetacarcinusSpecies M novaezelandiaeBinomial nameMetacarcinus novaezelandiae Hombron amp Jacquinot 1846 1 SynonymsPlatycarcinus novaezelandiae Hombron amp Jacquinot 1846 Cancer novaezelandiae Jacquinot 1853 Contents 1 Diet and foraging 2 Predators parasites and diseases 3 Cultural uses 4 Fossil record 5 ReferencesDiet and foraging editIn larval form Metacarcinus novaezelandieae consumes mostly tiny plankton Once fully grown though they are primarily carnivorous hunting nocturnally and preying on a variety of organisms Molluscs bivalves gastropods and cephalopods make up approximately one third of its diet and are its main food source followed by crustaceans amphipods isopods crabs and shrimp which make up about 20 of its diet Other food sources include small fish sea anemones sea sponges and algae M novaezelandieae hunts by using its powerful chelae to catch kill crush and access its prey then feeds using its mouthparts Its claws are capable of breaking open the tough shells of molluscs allowing the crab to reach the soft mollusc body inside and feed on it Its claws allow it to effectively kill other forms of prey such as crustaceans as well 3 Predators parasites and diseases editIn larval form Metacarcinus novaezelandieae is preyed upon by various fish species As an adult it has several main predators Sea and shore birds such as gulls prey on crabs that expose themselves often flying them up high and then dropping them to crack the tough crab exoskeleton Larger fish with strong teeth prey upon these crabs under the water Humans kill and eat these crabs when gathering food from the coast as well as indirectly killing them from various industrial scientific and commercial operations 3 Cultural uses editNew Zealand Maori have historically eaten crabs as part of their kai moana food from the ocean diet Crabs were an easy resource to gather as they are often found in coastal shallows making them easily accessible sea food M novaezelandieae is most likely among the many species of crabs the Maori ate as it grows to a size large enough to be considered for eating as well as being found throughout New Zealand Sea food including M novaezelandieae are still claimed by Maori today as a cultural food resource 4 Fossil record editFossils of the species are known from the Miocene of New Zealand 5 References edit Peter K L Ng Daniele Guinot amp Peter J F Davie 2008 Systema Brachyurorum Part I An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world PDF Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 17 1 286 Species Register Crabs Woodbridge School Tasmania Archived from the original on 2011 07 23 Retrieved December 29 2009 a b Cresswell Paul D 1988 Feeding ecology of the New Zealand Cancer crabCancer novaezelandiae Jacquinot 1853 Brachyura Cancridae Masters Thesis University of Canterbury doi 10 26021 5709 hdl 10092 2419 Fisher K Vallance S 2010 Food gathering practices at the Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Canterbury Aotearoa New Zealand Summer scholarship report Lincoln University 2010 Feldmann Rodney M Schweitzer Carrie E amp McLauchlan Don December 2006 Additions to the records for decapod Crustacea from Motunau and Glenafric Beaches North Canterbury New Zealand New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 49 4 417 427 doi 10 1080 00288306 2006 9515178 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pie crust crab amp oldid 1140714676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
