Bull Hydroid Crab

Naxioides taurus is a crab species from the Epialtidae family.

Description

Carapace of the female elongate-ovate, covered with tubercles and granules unequal in size, each region separated by shallow grooves, each anterior and posterior branchial region with a short spine. Front with two slender long spines, with spinules at the middle dorsally. Dorsal-ocular eave produced and spiniform, its base separated from the triangular intercalated spine by a U-shaped notch, postocular lobe cup-shaped, its ventral lateral margin separated from basal segment of the antenna by a U-shaped notch. Anterior distal angle of basal segment of the antenna produced in the form of a spine. Hepatic region convex, its lateral margin with tubercles of unequal size. Merus of third maxillipeds finely serrated on the inner border. Chelipeds slender, subcylindrical. Palm more than thrice longer than dactylus. Inner border of fingers with blunt teeth. Ambulatory legs slender; merus with an acute subdistal spine; dactylus with spinules on inner border. Abdomen of the female rounded; fourth to sixth segments fused, telson semicircular. Carapace length 24.8 mm, breadth 11.1 mm.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific Ocean: Red Sea, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Andamans, Japan, South China Sea, Philippines, Sulu Archipelago, Indonesia, north Australia.

Habitat

It is usually found on gorgonians, black corals or soft corals.It is more commonly seen at night.