Oziothelphusa ceylonensis

6. July 2007

Oziothelphusa ceylonensis

An amazing variety of crustaceans can be found in tropical fresh- and brackish water areas. Only few species however are imported regularly. Recently this species was imported which comes from Sri Lanka, as one could guess from its name. O.ceylonensis is a pure freshwater species, with a carapax width of 6 cm and a colour varying from brown to red. Most crustaceans develop from free swimming larvae, a so called zoea phase, towards the adult and sessile phase. The zoea larvae of most brackish- and freshwater crustaceans float after hatching from riverine systems towards the sea where they spend their youth in seawater and migrate back to brackish or freshwater when they reached their sessile form. O.ceylonensis however stays its whole life in freshwater and has a direct development without a zoea phase. This makes this crab of course very suitable for the home aquarium.(Photo: Frank Schäfer, Text: Izaak den Daas)

Angaben zum Tier
Herkunft Sri Lanka