These are a small (less than 4cm) crab that lives in mangrove areas.

Purple climber crab - Metopograpsus sp. on rocks near Newell Beach Boat Ramp - Photo by Alex Pawlow

They are proficient climbers and are often seen on mangrove roots and rocks, showing off their bright purple livery.

They mainly feed on algae that they scrape off surfaces with their scalloped finger surfaces. They will however attack and eat other small creatures and scavenge.

They area tropical species found along north eastern Queensland and Northern Territory.

Two species of the genus Metopograpsus are common in the mangroves between Cairns and Cape Tribulation, M. latifrons and M. frontalis however they are difficult to distinguish by sight in the wild.