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Non Marine Crabs
The coastal waters around Mauritius abound with hundreds of species of crabs. However on the mainland there are only four species of non marine crabs i.e those that spend most of their lives either on land or in freshwater. This number excludes a handful of small hermit crab species.
While all the four species spend most of their lives on land or in freshwater rivers and streams, the berried females head towards the sea to release their eggs and all have a planktonic larval stage. Eventually small crabs return to colonize the land or freshwater streams.
In the nature series, a set of four stamps is being issued to feature these non marine species.
Rs2 Tourloulou Crab: Cardisoma carnifex (Herbst)
Family : GECARCINIDAE
Locally known as Crab Trouloulou or Tourloulou, it occurs in the Indian Pacific region and is common on mainland Mauritius and Rodrigues. This is a large land crab with a body size up to 100 mm, which lives in deep burrows on the landward edge of mangroves, salt marshes and beaches, and further inland. The burrow entrances are large and conspicuous. It is a nocturnal scavenger and can often be seen crossing roads in coastal regions at night.
Rs7 Land Crab: Geograpsus grayi
Family: GRAPSIDAE
This crab is found from the Western Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific region and is common on mainland Mauritius and is especially abundant in Agalega. This is a medium size crab with a body up to 36 mm across.
During the day it can be found under logs and rocks in vegetated areas around the coast and up to about five hundreds of meters inland. It frequently invades people?s houses in coastal areas. It is a scavenger and forages mostly at night.
Rs8 Freshwater Crab: Varuna litterata (Fabricius)
Family: GRAPSIDAE
Its distribution ranges from the Western Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific. It is rare in Mauritius, where it occurs in freshwater rivers and streams such as Rivi?re des Anguilles. Varuna litterata is unusual since it can live in the sea as well as colonizing freshwater. This is a medium size crab with a body of up to 56 mm.
Rs25 Coconut Crab: Birgus latro (Linnaeus)
Family: COENOBITIDAE
This species locally known as Crab Cipaye ranges from the Western Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific. It is extinct in Mauritius, rare and endangered in Agalega (North and South Island) and common in the Chagos.
This is the largest of all terrestrial crabs and can reach 60 cm in length and weighs up to four kilos. It forages mostly at night, feeding on plants, including coconuts, and scavenges on dead animals. Its common name stems from the fact that it can climb coconut palms and cut down the coconuts. Back on the ground it is able to tear open the fallen coconuts.
These crabs are heavily persecuted throughout most of their existence as they are edible.
First Day Cover Illustration
The illustration on the First Day Cover portrays a berried female crab.
Cancellation cachet.
The cancellation cachet specially designed for the issue is applied on official first day cover only.
Technical Details
Designer: Ian Loe
Printer: BDT International Security Printing Ltd
Size: 25 x 30 mm
Perforation: 13 x 2
Gum: PVA
Paper: CA Spiral Watermarked
Sheet format: 50 stamps set in two panes of 25
Release Date: 9 October 2006
Acknowledgements:
Mr. Owen Griffiths
Mr. Nurveen Ratty
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