Ovalipes ocellatus

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Ovalipes ocellatus, commonly known as the lady crab,Template:Efn oscellated crab,Template:Efn or calico crab,Template:Sfn Template:Efn is a species of crab in the family Ovalipidae.<ref name="WoRMS">Template:Cite WoRMS</ref>Template:Sfn

DescriptionEdit

The carapace of O. ocellatus is slightly wider than long, at Template:Convert wide,Template:Sfn and Template:Convert long.<ref name="Kaplan"/> The carapace is yellow-grey<ref name="Kaplan"/> or light purplish,Template:Sfn with "leopardlike clusters of purple dots".<ref name="Kaplan"/> It exhibits a limited iridescence as a form of signalling.Template:Sfn

TaxonomyEdit

Ovalipes ocellatus is commonly known as the lady crab,Template:Efn oscellated crab,Template:Efn or calico crab.Template:Sfn It was first described in 1799 by naturalist Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst, who placed it into the genus Cancer.Template:Sfn<ref name="WoRMS"/> In 1898, carcinologist Mary Jane Rathbun moved the species to her new genus Ovalipes.Template:Sfn O. ocellatus is part of a distinct group of Ovalipes which also includes O. floridanus, O. iridescens, O. molleri, and O. stephensoni.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Efn O. ocellatus is almost identical to O. floridanus, which lives in the Gulf of Mexico, but can be separated from the sympatric O. stephensoni by purple spots which O. stephensoni lacks.<ref name="Kaplan">Template:Cite book</ref> The following cladogram based on morphology shows the relationship between O. catharus and the other extant species of Ovalipes:Template:Sfn Template:Efn

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DistributionEdit

The distribution of Ovalipes ocellatus extends along North America's Atlantic coast from Canada to Georgia.<ref name="Kaplan"/> O. ocellatus is "probably the only Ovalipes species common north of Virginia", being replaced by Ovalipes stephensoni to the south.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

DietEdit

The diet of Ovalipes ocellatus consists predominantly of bivalves, crustaceans including other crabs, polychaetes, cephalopods, and gastropods.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn It rarely feeds on fish.Template:Sfn

Life cycleEdit

Ovalipes ocellatus has five zoeal (larval) stages, lasting a total of 18 days at Template:Convert and a salinity of 30‰, and 26 days at Template:Convert and 30‰.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

EcologyEdit

File:Ovalipes ocellatus partially buried in sand dorsal.jpg

Ovalipes ocellatus often buries itself in the sand.Template:Sfn

Ovalipes ocellatus is nocturnal and often buries itself in the sand.Template:Sfn<ref name="Kaplan"/> It has been described as "vicious" and "the crab most likely to pinch a wader's toes".<ref name="Kaplan"/>

NotesEdit

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ReferencesEdit

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BibliographyEdit

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External linksEdit

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3D model from the Smithsonian Institution

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