Leptograpsus variegatus

Leptograpsus variegatus, known as the purple rock crab, is a marine large-eyed crab of the family Grapsidae, found in southern subtropical Indo-Pacific Oceans. It grows to around shell width. It is the only species in the genus Leptograpsus.

==Taxonomy== Leptograpsus variegatus was first described in 1793 as Cancer. variegatus. In 1803, C. variegatus was moved to the Grapsus genus and became Grapsus variegatus. In 1818, 1842 and 1852, L. variegatus was described again as Grapsus personatus, Grapsus strigilatus and Grapsus planifrons. In 1853, Henri Milne-Edwards erected the Leptograpsus genus and used G. variegatus as the type taxon. In his publication, Milne-Edwards recognized G. personatus, G. strigilatus and G. planifrons to be synonyms of L. variegatus. Milne-Edwards also described Leptograpsus ansoni, Leptograpsus gayi and Leptograpsus verreauxi, however these would later also be recognized as synonyms of L. variegatus.