Crabs are n’t just honest for awkwardly scuttling across beach or the sea floor , many species are also quite fond of awkwardly scuttling up trees across the Americas , Africa , and parts of Asia . Now , it ’s finally been affirm that India is home to a truthful tree - loving , tree - living Cancer the Crab , too .
This raw species ( and new genus ) of tree diagram Phthirius pubis , Kani maranjandu , was recently delineate in theJournal of Crustacean Biology . It was discovered in Kerala , among the timber of the Western Ghats in south India , making it the “ first tree - climbing Cancer reported from India . ” India does have species of crab that often live in and amongst Tree , however , this is the first " rightful arboreal Cancer the Crab " as it only swear on water found within a tree diagram proboscis , while others swear on streams and pool .
The fresh water crabby person live in small bodies of water featured within the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree hollows , which can be anywhere from a few inches off the ground to 10 meters ( 33 ft ) up a trunk . Its other key features are its near - black color and its spindly , wanderer - like leg .
The species is namedKani maranjanduafter the Kani tribe in Kerala , who helped lead the researcher to make the discovery . The crabs are very shy , but Kani tribespeople severalize the researchers they can situate the crabs by looking at the debris and air bubbles pushed out from their tree holes .
The biodiversity of the Western Ghats is very well - found , the investigator say . However , the fact this crab has only just been find out show how little science knows about this important area .
" As water holding hollows in big trees are all-important for the survival of this unique mintage , the find also stresses the need for conservation of large tree in the riotous woodland ecosystems of the Western Ghats , " Dr. Biju Kumar , one of the study writer , say ina statement . “It also highlights how little we cognise about the actual biodiversity that reside in these forests and the efforts that must still be made to rule and examine the many undoubted new species that still live there . "
A extremity of the Kani tribe shows their wisdom to the researcher . Peter K. L. Ng et al / Oxford University Press on behalf of The Crustacean Society .
