Sesarma Miersii (Armases Miersii)

Armases Miersii (Rathbun, 1897), formerly Sesarma Miersii, is a semi-terrestrial crab in the family Sesarmidae. It is listed among the decapod crustaceans found in Dominica, including freshwater creeks and brackish margins. Its accepted name is Armases miersii; Sesarma miersii is an older synonym, sighted just south of the Indian River at Portsmouth. Regionally, the species ranges from the Bahamas to Uruguay.

Ecology and identification

Carapace sub-quadrate (about nine-tenths as long as wide); walking legs flattened and moderately broad. The immature male described was patterned in browns and tan, with brown eyestalks bearing a cream dorsal stripe and black corneas. Like many semi-terrestrial crabs, adults use moisture-retaining gill chambers to breathe air and return to the sea to release larvae.

Sightings and best viewing areas

If present, search quietly along the margins of the mudflat south of the Indian River, focusing on buttressed trees at low tide. The only documented local record is from this spot, so sightings are expected to be infrequent; clear photos of the carapace shape and eyestalk pattern will help confirm identification.