| Thenus orientalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Family: | Scyllaridae |
| Subfamily: | Theninae Holthuis, 1985 |
| Genus: | Thenus Leach, 1815 |
| Species: | T. orientalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Thenus orientalis | |
Thenus orientalis is a species ofslipper lobster from theIndian andPacific oceans.
T. orientalis is known by a number ofcommon names. TheUnited NationsFood and Agriculture Organization prefers the nameflathead lobster, while in Australia, it is more widely known as theMoreton Bay bug afterMoreton Bay,Brisbane,Queensland.[3] In Singapore, both the flathead lobster and truecrayfish are called crayfish. They are used in manySingaporean dishes.[4][5][6][7][8] The species is sometimes confused with theBalmain bug (Ibacus peronii) but it can be distinguished by the placement of the eyes: the eyes ofI. peronii are near the midline, while those ofT. orientalis are at the margin of the carapace.[9]
T. orientalis has a strongly depressed body and grows to a maximum body length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in), or acarapace length of 8 cm (3.1 in).[10]
Thenus orientalis has an Indo-West Pacific distribution, ranging from the east coast of Africa (southernRed Sea, toNatal) toChina including thePersian Gulf, southernJapan, thePhilippines and along the northern coast of Australia fromWestern Australia to Queensland.[10] They are also caught on a small scale off the shores ofMalaysia and Singapore.[10]
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