Atergatis Integerrimus - A highly toxic crab that resembles Pancake (& also doracake)

The Red egg crab, or Atergatis Intergerrimus, is a species of reef crab from the family Xanthidae. Like almost all the xanthid crabs, the Red egg crabs are highly poisonous, so much so that the toxins they contain are not destroyed by cooking and for which no antidote is known. Toxins in the crab's body are similar to tetrodotoxin and paralytic shellfish toxin (saxitoxin) produced by puffer fish, which are synthesized by the bacteria of the genus Vibrio, mostly V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus, which live in symbiosis with the crab.


 Scientific Name: Atergatis Integerrimus
 Described by:  Jean Bastiste Lamark, 1818
 Diet:  Omnivorous
 Avg. Size:  8-11 cm
 Avg. Wiegth:  Currently unknown
 Lifespan:  Currently unknown
 Pronunciation:
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Scientific classification
Kingdom Animal kingdom
Phylum: Arthopoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Xanthidae
Genus: Atergatis
Species: Atergatis integerrimus
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The Red egg crab, or Atergatis integerrimus, is a species of reef crab from the family Xanthidae.Like almost all the xanthid crabs, the Red egg crabs are highly poisonous, so much so that the toxins they contain are not destroyed by cooking and for which no antidote is known. 
Toxins in the crab's body are similar to tetrodotoxin and paralytic shellfish toxin (saxitoxin) produced by puffer fish, which are synthesized by the bacteria of the genus Vibrio, mostly V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus, which live in symbiosis with the crab.
Juvenils(right) and sub-adult (left) Red egg crab via Newsnpr



The Red egg crabs, since the end of the previous year, have become a more well-known species on the internet. The rise in popularity occurred because of the appearance of the juvenile Red egg crabs, which is quite similar to that of Dorayakis, a Japanese confection also known as Dora cakes. 

During their sub-adult stage, they lose their Dora cake look and become more pancake-like in appearance. 

Description

Adult Red egg crab by hokoonwong via Inaturalist



The Juveniles of the species are light brown with a white band around the edge of the body. As the crab matures into a sub-adult, the size of the crab increases, the white band of the ridges shrinks, and the shell become darker in color and more oval-shaped, with the development of light white spots on the carapace.

The adult crabs have a large oval, somewhat egg-shaped body with a smooth edge with the hue of their shells ranging from reddish brown, orangey to bright red, usually with scattered white spots. The pincers are large and equal-sized with smooth (no bumps) spoon-shaped black tips. Males may have larger pincers. Walking legs are not hairy.


Diet




Red egg crabs, like other Xanthid crabs, are opportunistic predators and omnivores with a diverse diet that includes small fish, invertebrates, algae, and even detritus found on the ocean floor.


Distribution & Habitat

Atergatis Integerrimus distribution map via Inaturalist



The Red egg crabs are widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and eastern Africa, south to KwaZulu-Natal, and east along the shores of the Indian Ocean into the Pacific as far as Fiji.

They live on coral reefs and rocky substrata from the low tide mark to a depth of 30 meters and prefer shallow reef-rich environments with plenty of hiding spots.

The crabs are predominantly nocturnal and slow-moving, and because of this, they prefer to be near the security of a hiding place to which they may escape when threatened. 





References


Image Credits

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