Homalaspis is a genus of crabs in the family Platyxanthidae. It is monotypic, the sole species being Homalaspis plana,[2] also known as the purple stone crab[3] or Chilean stone crab.[4]

Homalaspis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Platyxanthidae
Genus: Homalaspis
A. Milne-Edwards, 1863
Species:
H. plana
Binomial name
Homalaspis plana
Synonyms[1]
  • Xantho planus H. Milne Edwards, 1834
  • Gecarcinus regius Poeppig, 1836

Homalaspis plana occurs in the East Pacific from the Galápagos Archipelago to southern Patagonia.[3] There is a single record from the west coast of South Africa, likely resulting from shipping or aquaculture imports.[4]

Homalaspis plana lives in the intertidal zone and down to 272 m (892 ft). It is a commercially valuable species.[3]

References

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