The Purple Princess Crab (Phricotelphusa sirindhorn), a rare and visually striking variant of the species, has recently garnered attention after being spotted at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand. Known for its vibrant purple hue and royal-like appearance, this crab is a fascinating discovery that highlights the importance of preserving the diverse ecosystems within Thailand’s marine habitats.
Purple Princess Crab is distinguished by its white carapace and claws on both sides. Its four pairs of walking legs, eye sockets, and mouth area are dark purple or black, which is the origin of its name, “Panda Crab.” When fully grown, the width of its carapace ranges from approximately 9 to 25 millimeters.
Purple Princess Crab is a small freshwater crab species from the Gecarcinucidae family. It was first discovered at Hong Ao Waterfall, within the Hong Ao Waterfall Wildlife Sanctuary in Mueang District, Ranong Province, on December 6, 1986, by Professor Paiboon Naiyathorn and a group of master’s degree students from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3064006/rare-panda-crab-spotted-in-western-thai-forest.The panda crab was officially named in Thailand as (Chao Fa) Sirindhorn Crab in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. It was first discovered in Ngao Waterfall National Park in Ranong province in 1986 and has since been found in other western waterfalls, such as Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Huai Yai.
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Are they always purple?
Well, no. They have a range of colors of their carapace and claws, from white to deep purple, depending on their environment, age, and individual variation.
Why Panda?
Some of their variants have a black carapace and claws, which suits their contrasting appearance. What animal has this color set? A Panda! (Could also be a Zebra, but Panda probably comes to mind first 😅)
Their colors are outstanding! But what else makes them so unique?
According to the official document from the National Science and Technology Development Agency. Panda crab has unique gonopods (sperm transferring appendages) and 7 abdomen flaps, which are unique to this species.
Are they a threatened species?
According to IUCN Red List, they are listed as Least Concern. But beware that the assessment was done in 2008. Also, The Purple variant is extremely rare to find, and some organizations use it as an ecosystem indicator species.
