Taiwan scientists reports that they have discovered a new species of crab off the island's southern tip.
Researchers from the National Taiwan Ocean University found two specimens of a red crab with white dots on a beach in Kenting National Park.
After comparing them with data of the world's nearly 10, 000 crab species and consulting foreign scholars, the scientists concluded that they found a new species and nicknamed it Strawberry Crab.
"We will formally announce the discovery in a thesis to be published in the quarterly Crustaceana published in the Netherlands," chief researcher Ho Ping-ho said.
"Scholars at the National University of Singapore have also found a male Strawberry Crab on a Pacific island and made it into a specimen. We plan to jointly write the paper to announce the discovery," he added.
Taiwan scientist discovers 'strawberry' crab
AFP 5 Jan 10;
TAIPEI — A Taiwanese marine biologist said Tuesday he had found a new species of crab which is coloured like a polka-dotted strawberry.
Professor Ho Ping-ho of National Taiwan Ocean University said he made the discovery while carrying out research on the environmental impact from a shipwreck last year on the beaches of southern Kenting National Park.
"One was dead while the other was dying when they were found on a beach of Chialoshui," Ho told AFP, referring to a scenic coastal village in the national park.
The two female crabs, with the bigger one measuring 2.5 centimetres (one inch) in size, have been made into specimens.
"Luckily the oil leak from the shipwreck was not serious, otherwise the two crabs might have been polluted and escaped our eyes," Ho said.
The professor said he was writing an essay on the new species.
New 'strawberry' crab species found off Taiwan
Yahoo News 5 Jan 10;
TAIPEI, Taiwan – A marine biologist says he has discovered a new crab species off the coast of southern Taiwan that looks like a strawberry with small white bumps on its red shell.
National Taiwan Ocean University professor Ho Ping-ho says the crab resembles the species living in the areas around Hawaii, Polynesia and Mauritius. But it has a distinctive clam-shaped shell about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) wide, making it distinct.
Taiwanese crab specialist Wang Chia-hsiang confirmed Ho's finding.
Ho said Tuesday his team found two female crabs of the new species last June off the coast of Kenting National Park, known for its rich marine life. The crabs died shortly thereafter, possibly because the water in the area was polluted by a cargo ship that ran aground.