grapsidæ

pl. [Lat. graps ( us ), and fem. pl. adj. suff. -ida.] Zool .: Grapsoidians; a family of brachyurous crustaceans, tribe Cat a metopes. Milne Edwards places them between the Gonoplacians and the Oxystomes. They have a le regularly quadrilateral carapace than in the Gonoplacians, to which they are closely akin. They are inhabitants of the seashore or of rocks bordering the ocean. They are timid, and escape with much speed at the first appearance of danger.