Scientists Discover Unique Species Purple Crab

Scientists at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Germany and the De La Salle University in Manila discovered four new species of freshwater crab genus Insulamon.

Four new species of freshwater crab, the purple light is found on the island of Palawan, Philippines.

But the newly discovered species are uniquely threatened by mining activities in the region.

About half of the species that live in Palawan are endemic, meaning they can not be found elsewhere.

“It is known that the crab can make a color distinction. Like staining is closely linked with the signal function in social behavior,” said Hendrik Freitag of the Senckenberg Museum of Zoology, Germany.

“This explains why large males in many species Insulamon have more red color than most females, and puppies that are purple,” Freitag added.

Biological wealth of crabs in the Palawan region have been studied since 1980, at which time it was discovered species Insulamon unicorn.

Further studies then found the other crab species are also included in the genus Insulamon.

“Based on the existing material, five other species are found, four of them new to science,” said Freitag, who published his findings in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology National University of Singapore.

Largest crab species found named Insulamon magnum sized 53 mm x 41.8 mm. While the smallest, Insulamon porculum, measuring 33.1 mm x 25.1 mm.

Two other species were found and named Insulamon palawense Insulamon johannchristiani.