Sowrie, Plagusia glabra

Form:

The front edge of the Sowrie's carapace is not as notched as the Red Bait Crab, Plagusia chabrus, its close relation.

There are three distinct sharp spines one each side of the carapace.

The walking legs have sharp spines on the ends, so that the Sowrie can grasp onto rock.

Colour:

The Sowrie is a pretty, green-coloured crab which lives at low levels on rocky ocean shores.

It is fawn-grey with a covering of dark green spots, so that the crab appears to be green in colour. The legs are fine spotted with brown.

Distribution:

The Sowrie is found from south-eastern Queensland to the Victorian border. Its range is restricted to south-eastern Australia.

Habitat:

It prefers to sit at the bottom of rock pools or in cracks and crevices of the rock platform. They appear to live in groups.

References:

Bennett, I. (1987) W.J. Dakin's classic study: Australian Seashores. p.224-5, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.

Davey, K. (1998) A Photographic Guide to Seashore Life of Australia. p.58, New Holland, Sydney.

Jones, D. & Morgan, G. (1994) A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters. p.185,Reed, Chatswood.

Crabs

Tubercled Crab
Reef Crab
Smooth-handed Crab
Variegated Shore Crab
Red Bait Crab
Sowrie Crab
Mudflat Sentinal Crab
Smooth Shore Crab
Seaweed-decorator Crab
Crab reproduction
Crab parasitism

Home Page
Taxonomy
Biogeography
Rocky Shores
Tidal Levels
Intertidal Zonation
Environmental Factors
Biological Factors
Feeding Relationships
Activities
Glossary
References