Distribution and ecology of the crabs Cyclograpsus lavauxi and C. insularum in Northern New Zealand

Abstract

The differences between the crabs Cyclograpsus lavauxi (Milne Edwards, 1853) and C. insularum (Campbell and Griffin, 1966) are outlined. Cyclograpsus lavauxi has long been known to be very common in New Zealand, but C insularum was considered very rare and had been collected only six times since 1929. In 1970, 60 spot surveys in the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand revealed 14 new populations of Cyclograpsus insularum. Both species are found under boulders high on the beach. Cyclograpsus lavauxi occurs at maximum density higher on the shore than the maximum numbers of C. insularum, but the zones overlap widely. Cyclograpsus insularum occurs on substrates of smaller sand and silt content than those on which C. lavauxi is found.