Purple Crabs, Including Insulamon Palawanense, Discovered In Palawan, Philippines (PHOTOS)

You may have heard of blue lobsters, but how about purple crabs? Four new species of the colorful crustaceans were discovered in the hilly Philippine island of Palawan, according to a study published in the journal Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.

Why purple? "It is known that crabs can discriminate colors," said study author Dr. Hendrik Freitag of the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden, according to Phys.org. "Therefore, it seems likely that the coloration has a signal function for the social behavior, e.g. mating."

The Insulamon palawanense, pictured above, is one of the new species, all of which are in the same genus and all of which appear to be confined to rivers and streams on a particular inland region of the 5,600-square-mile island.

Palawan, located between the Philippines and the Sundaland region that includes Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra, "combines two of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots," according to a written statement released by Senckenberg.

Given all the variety of species in the area, it's no surprise that the crabs have taken this long to be studied; the largest specimen's shell is only 53 millimeters wide--about two inches.

The crab is only one of many unusual species that make Palawan their home. The island is also home to the Philippine mouse-deer, the Philippine pangolin and many species of butterfly.

But compared these other species, the Insulamon crabs have it especially tough. The crabs can't survive in salt water, and so won't be able to migrate to adjacent islands without human intervention, according to the Senckenberg statement.

Insulamon magnum, another species described in Freitag's study.

Palawan's biodiversity has been threatened in recent years by destruction of habitats. The island's rocky southern reaches are one of China's main sources of nickel, a metal used heavily in technology manufacturing, and Al Jazeera reported in March on the mining initiatives that have threatened the region's fragile soil. Palawan animal and plant life depend on precise environmental conditions, and Freitag said that "Even minor environmental changes can lead to extinctions."

Local farmers and conservationists launched a campaign against mining in the area in February 2011.

Also on HuffPost:

GALLERY: ANIMAL RECORD-HOLDERS

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• Strongest Animal

  The rhinoceros beetle (pictured) can push around 850 times its weight.

• Largest Invertebrate (Land)

  The coconut crab weighs about 6.6 pounds and its legs can span up to two and a half feet Liz Hall from the Melbourne Aquarium inspects Coconut Crab as he takes possesion of a coconut in Melbourne, 19 December 2006. They Coconut crab (also known as the Robber Crab) are the largest living crab in the world and can climb coconut trees to harvest coconuts which they can break with their huge nippers and have been gruesomely know to feed on injured or unconcious people in the bush. (William West, AFP / Getty Images)

• The giant squid is the world's largest invertebrate, and the largest ever measured was 59 feet long. Giant squids also have the largest eyes of any animal, each one about the size of a human head.

• Smallest Mammal

  The etruscan shrew is the smallest mammal (by weight) in the world. The smallest animal by skull size is the bumblebee bat.

• Most Venomous Animal

  The sea wasp jellyfish (pictured) has enough venom to kill 60 adult humans. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/65578066@N00" target="_hplink">Guido Gautsch/Flickr</a>

• Longest Migration

  Arctic terns migrate about 11,000 miles to the Antarctic each year...and then come all the way back! An Arctic Tern dives down to protect its nest on June 24, 2011 on Inner Farne, England. (Dan Kitwood, Getty Images)

• Loudest Animal

  Blue whales' low-frequency pulses can be heard over 500 miles way. At 188 decibels, these sounds are louder than a jet engine. In this picture taken on March 26, 2009, shows a blue whale swimming in the deep waters off the southern Sri Lankan town of Mirissa. (Ishara S. Kodikara, AFP / Getty Images)

• World's Most Extreme Animals

  North African ostriches run up to 45 miles an hour, making them the fastest land bird. They are also the biggest, weighing up to 345 pounds. An african ostrich eats at the Addo National Elephant Park, north of Port Elizabeth, on June 24, 2010. South Africa is hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. (Patrick Hertzog, AFP / Getty Images)

• Fastest Bird

  Peregrine falcons dive toward their prey at over 200 mph. A young male Peregrine Falcon eats meat taken from the protective glove of Taronga Zoo bird trainer Erin Stone (unseen) following a short flying lesson in Sydney on December 9, 2009. (Greg Wood, AFP / Getty Images)

• Fastest Fish

  Sailfish can swim at speeds of up to 68 mph, although experts disagree as to just which species of sailfish is the fastest. Sailfish jumping out of the water on January 16, 2006 in the Florida Keys, Florida. (Ronald C. Modra, Sports Imagery / Getty Images)

• Fastest Mammal

  Cheetahs can run at speeds up to 70 mph. Majani, a 2-year-old male African cheetah, exhibits lighting speed Friday, March 19, 2004 while chasing a mechanical rabbit at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park as part of the Park's environmental enrichment program. (Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo / AP)

• Longest Lifespan

  Three giant tortoises are estimated to have lived over 175 years, with one estimated at a whopping 255 years. Image: Harriet, who died in 2006, was thought to be the third longest-lived tortoise on record. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/123660557/" target="_hplink">Cory Doctorow/Creative Commons</a>

• World's Most Extreme Animals

  African elephants are the heaviest and second tallest land animals. Large males can exceed 13,000 pounds and are 12 feet tall at the shoulder. This photo made on February 10, 2011 shows an elephant in Tsavo west national park, some 350 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. (Tony Karumba, AFP / Getty Images)

Comments

[Steph1951]

09:42 PM on 07/19/2012

typo correction: Venus Flytrap

[Steph1951]

09:41 PM on 07/19/2012

Very beautiful crabs. Now this brings my thoughts to the olden days of,
source: Yahoo answers: The Baby Turtle Craze in the '70s

During the 1970s it became something of a fad to buy baby turtles—usually red-eared sliders—about the size of a silver dollar, along with a small water bowl and plastic palm tree. Many people contracted reptile-associated salmonellosis through direct and indirect contact with these baby turtles. Children were prone to placing the turtles in their mouths or ingesting bacteria left on their hands after handling the turtles.

In 1976 the Food and Drug Administration, on the advice of the Association of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, took drastic action to curtail the reptile-associated salmonellosis outbreak. It banned the sale or distribution of turtles with a carapace length under 4 inches.

p.s. I had one of these turtles in the 60s but never got sick. I miss having a Venes Flytrap Plant.

[Abmaj7]

09:06 PM on 04/25/2012

It's a two eyed, two clawed, crawling purple plankton eater.

[thesilentcrow]

03:11 AM on 04/25/2012

that purple crab is beautiful. it's a pity its home is in danger because of human idiocy. crabs are sensitive to environmental changes, even those little fiddler crabs wal-mart peddles. despite the pet stores listing them as fresh water, they are in fact brackish water creatures (meaning they need a certain amount of marine salt in their water). they also need dry land, heat and humidity. if the proper environment isn't provided, the poor things die slowly over about 2 months. proper environment is the key to all animal survival, without it, they die. more people need to start giving a hoot about how they effect the planet because if they don't our world will be ugly, unpleasant, and barren of all life. it may not happen this generation or the next, but it will happen, then gods forbid there actually be reincarnation. what a horrible place it would be to have to come back to.

[Jill Press]

01:51 PM on 04/25/2012

George Carlin disagreed with you. Can you find fault with his facts or logic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YlNCBliw20

[karaanne90]

01:08 AM on 04/25/2012

Ekk, gives me the creepy crawly's.

[Daniella Lucia]

11:13 PM on 04/24/2012

It's crab friends must be so jealous.

[Denisehh3]

09:11 PM on 04/24/2012

How absolutely beautiful.........our Creator has an endless palette of colours.......

[kairatera]

11:06 PM on 04/24/2012

Only 7 and their shades/tints.

[Denisehh3]

12:07 AM on 04/25/2012

@kairatera.......really?

[MagicalPossibilities]

12:58 AM on 04/25/2012

7 colors? I thought there were only 3 primary colors.

[Jerilyn Jund]

08:07 PM on 04/24/2012

Nature is amazing. Beautiful picture. Glad it was shared!

[squiddypie8]

05:35 PM on 04/24/2012

What beauties

[UserNameJane]

04:53 PM on 04/24/2012

Awww, I want to pet it, and rub its belly.

[babyfacenelson]

07:09 PM on 04/24/2012

I wonder what color it turns when you cook it and put butter on it? Just kidding sheesh :)

[UserNameJane]

08:22 PM on 04/24/2012

You need a time out,, To the corner for one hours.

[Autora]

01:22 PM on 04/24/2012

They're certainly beautiful, and apparently already endangered. Sometimes I wonder if there is any place on earth where biodiversity can just continue to exist without us somehow messing it up.

[FromBeyondUrAnus]

05:34 PM on 04/24/2012

If we aren't there to observere it, then what's the point of it existing? Or better yet, how do we know it still exists if we aren't watching it? It's important that we continue to harass nature in order to make sure that it doesn't simply vanish from existence when we weren't looking.

[Autora]

07:03 PM on 04/24/2012

You are clearly trying to make a 'Zen' point, akin to one hand clapping, or if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it-- you're a little behind the times.

I heard this argument 30 years ago, my dear child.

[thesilentcrow]

03:20 AM on 04/25/2012

nature existed long before humans and will exist long after humans (thankfully) become extinct. nature has not existed for the billions of years just for our entertainment. the big bang and the order of the galaxies did not happen just so humans could stare and say "ooo pretty". harassing nature has been proven to be a bad thing time and time again. other lives exist outside the human lives. those lives want to be left alone so they can go about their business without some random two legged creature with too much time on its hands giving it a hard time.

[sanfran55]

11:57 AM on 04/24/2012

Amazing!!! I love seeing photos of spectacular nature, and that purple and orange color is awesome.

[dvncmdy]

09:05 AM on 04/24/2012

Positively Pretty Purple Crabs

[rg9rts]

08:33 AM on 04/24/2012

Without even looking I'm sure some moron asked how they taste. Bio-diversity continues to amaze me.

[J0E1]

01:13 PM on 04/24/2012

Wow, people like to eat crab... how moronic of them.  Really, you should probably keep your worthless drivel to yourself.

[thesilentcrow]

03:29 AM on 04/25/2012

did you know you're eating bugs when you eat crab? yes they are called crustaceans but they are actually arthropods (which take in countless species of insect and arachnid). those pill bugs aka roly-polies are also considered crustaceans, yet no one eats them because they consider them to be bugs. also crabs are the vacuums of beaches and ocean floors, meaning they eat poo and other detritus, which you then consume as well if you eat the crab/lobster/other underwater bugs. so yes, one could say it is foolish to eat such creatures. all the pollution going into the water, eventually these creatures will be highly poisonous. i pity the fool who eats them then...

[Charles Elk]

07:54 AM on 04/24/2012

Wow, and I thought halloween crabs were pretty.