Leptuca terpsichores | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Family: | Ocypodidae |
Subfamily: | Gelasiminae |
Tribe: | Minucini |
Genus: | Leptuca |
Species: | L. terpsichores
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Binomial name | |
Leptuca terpsichores (Crane, 1941)
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Synonyms | |
Uca terpsichores (basionym) |
Leptuca terpsichores, commonly known as the dancing fiddler crab, is a species of fiddler crab native to the eastern Pacific coast of the Americas, from Nicaragua to Peru.[1]
Previously a member of the genus Uca, the species was transferred in 2016 to the genus Leptuca when Leptuca was promoted from subgenus to genus level.[2][3] At one time, the species was considered a subspecies of L. musica.[1]
The adult carapace is approximately 7 mm wide.[1] The carapace is grey in color and males may exhibit yellow dorsal markings.[1]
Leptuca terpsichores is smaller than L. musica.[1] L. terpsichores has smaller tubercles on the outer manus and fewer tubercles along the anterior carapace.[1] The gape in the major cheliped is less serrate and the gape in the minor cheliped is slightly narrower.[1]
The species can be found on bay shores with muddy sand substrate.[1]