When the crab species Hemigrapsus penicillatus was found to be widespread in France, this species was given the Dutch name ‘borstelkrab’ (in English: brush crab) due to its brush-like bristles on its chelae (front claws) [2]. In 2000, after the first observations in the Netherlands, it was given the Dutch name ‘penseelkrab’, after the Latin species name penicillatus [3]. This is the name that was used to describe this species in our regions. However, in 2005, the two types of crabs were subdivided into two different species i.e., Hemigrapsus penicillatus and Hemigrapsus takanoi. The species name takanoi is a reference to the scientist who discovered this species [4]. After it became clear that not Hemigrapsus penicillatus but Hemigrapsus takanoi was introduced in Europe, it was concluded that the brush-clawed shore crab was named after the wrong species in Dutch. Because the name ‘penseelkrab’ has been used for so long, this incorrect name is still used, even though there exists a more correct alternative (‘borstelkrab’). |
