''Platyxanthus crenulatus'' is a species of

crab Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all the ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Platyxanthidae Platyxanthus is a family of crab Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely un ...

. The species is found along the sublittoral zone of the western Atlantic in the waters of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, associated mostly with hard bottoms. Adults are robust and conspicuous crabs, with a smooth carapace, dorsally purple and white ventrally. Their claws have marked heterochely and right-handedness (i.e. dimorphism between chelae and the tendency of bearing the major claw on the right-hand side of the body), traits associated with shell-breaking feeding habits. Due to its abundance, large size and diet, ''P. crenulatus'' presumably has an important ecological role as a predator in benthic communities.

References

Eriphioidea Crabs of the Atlantic Ocean Crustaceans described in 1879 {{Crab-stub