Geosesarma malayanum

Geosesarma malayanum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Sesarmidae
Genus: Geosesarma
Species: G. malayanum
Binomial name
Geosesarma malayanum
Ng & Lim, 1986

Geosesarma malayanum is a species of small red crab which is found in Malaysia.[1] It is famous for its relationship with pitcher plants: as such, it is classified as a nepenthephile.[2] G. malayanum is known to visit Nepenthes ampullaria plants and raid the pitchers of their contents.[1] It uses its claws to crush and consume the drowned prey. However, it has been reported that the crabs are occasionally trapped by pitchers in Brunei.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Charles Clarke (1997). Nepenthes of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu. pp. 51–52. ISBN 983-812-015-4.
  2. Peter K. L. Ng & R. P. Lim (1987). "The taxonomy and biology of the nepenthiphilous freshwater sesarmine crab, Geosesarma malayanum Ng and Lim, 1986 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Grapsidae) from Peninsular Malaysia". Malayan Nature Journal. 41: 393–402.


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