Sowrie, Plagusia glabra
There are three distinct sharp spines one each side of the carapace.
The walking legs have sharp spines on the ends, so that the Sowrie can grasp onto rock.
The Sowrie is a pretty, green-coloured crab which lives at low levels on rocky ocean shores.
It is fawn-grey with a covering of dark green spots, so that the crab appears to be green in colour. The legs are fine spotted with brown.
The Sowrie is found from south-eastern Queensland to the Victorian border. Its range is restricted to south-eastern Australia.
It prefers to sit at the bottom of rock pools or in cracks and crevices of the rock platform. They appear to live in groups.
Bennett, I. (1987) W.J. Dakin's classic study: Australian Seashores. p.224-5, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.
Davey, K. (1998) A Photographic Guide to Seashore Life of Australia. p.58, New Holland, Sydney.
Jones, D. & Morgan, G. (1994) A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters. p.185,Reed, Chatswood.