Shore crab

pa'apa'a

This terrestrial crab is in the same family as the thin shelled rock crab. However, this crab is less adapted to the beaches and is more often found in the interior of the motu of Tetiaroa. It is quite common in the Indo-Pacific. It is yellow-brown with irregular, parallel wrinkles on the dorsal side of its carapace. It is a pale yellow on its ventral side. It is rather flattened and  is part of the real crabs with about evenly sized claws.