Hippa adactyla Fabricius 1787

Hippa adactyla is a species of small, sand-burrowing decapod crustacean found living along the coasts of Indo-West Pacific waters. It is found on exposed sandy beaches in the swash region of the intertidal zone.

Description

Frontal region close up

Ventral with big telson

A small crustacean. Carapace ovate, more long than wide; neotype measurements: 25.1 mm × 22.5 mm.^[3] Females tends to have larger bodies than males; on the southern coast of Java, the carapace length is 17.6–34.9 mm in females or 18.1–27.7 in males.^[4]

According to Haig (1974):^[5]

"Carapace densely covered with sharply serrate, transverse lines. Frontal margin five-toothed; outer pair narrow, triangular, and sharp-pointed, and in adults projecting well beyond inner ones; inner pair rounded; between them a small median denticle, broadly triangular and scarcely produced. A row of 50–55 shallow, setiferous, slightly elongate pits near each lateral margin, forming a narrow band. Antennal flagellum with 3–6 articles, the number increasing with age. Dactyl of second and third legs deeply falcate, distal and proximal portions of the concave margin meeting at a right angle."

Distribution

Hippoidea spp. cooked and sold as rice crackers, in southern coasts of Central Java

Hippa adactyla occurs in Indo-West Pacific waters: from Madagascar eastward to the Marquesas Islands, northward to Japan (Misaki, Sagami Bay), and southward to Queensland (Australia).^[6]

This small crustacean is especially found on sandy bottoms of low intertidal to shallow subtidal.^[6]

In Malaysia, the crustaceans are locally known as Yat Yat or Ibu Remis. They can be found along the beaches in Kelantan during the monsoon season. The crustaceans are a local delicacy that is usually fried with eggs or roasted on a skewer like satay.^[7]

Uses

Known locally as yutuk in southern coasts of Central Java, this crustacean is often caught by local people and cooked as a delicacy.^[4]

References