Relevant Synonyms - Misidentification -  drawing : Tuvia Kurz

SHORT DESCRIPTION Carapace convex, expanded postero-laterally, concealing flexed walking legs underneath, furrows bordering cardiac region pronounced. Front narrow, bidentate. Lateral margins of carapace carinate, bearing triangular teeth successively larger posteriorly. Chelipeds massive, subequal. Upper margin of palm crested, dentate, external surface sculptured; larger dactylus proximally with crochet tooth fitting into molariform depression. Walking legs laterally compressed, dactyls styliform. color : carapace yellowish, darker anteriorly; chelipeds and walking legs pale. common size : CL male 5.9 cm, female 5.6 cm. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Color of carapace yellowish, unspotted. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Poorly known. habitat : muddy bottoms; 20-400 m, mostly between 50-150 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Alboran Sea, Chafarinas Isl., 1991. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Eastern Atlantic. Subsequently recorded in Gulf of Taranto, Italy (Pastore, 1996). Mediterranean : recorded first from Alboran Sea, Chafarinas Isl. (Silvestre, pers. comm., 1991; identification confirmed by B. Galil). Subsequently recorded in Gulf of Taranto, Italy (Pastore, 1996). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Unknown. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Unknown. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Monod T., 1956. Hippidea et Brachyura ouest-africains. Mémoires de l'Institut Français d'Afrique Noire, 45: 1-674. Pastore M., 1995. The genus Calappa in the Ionian Sea. Oebalia, 21: 187-190.   FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2002 ©ciesm 2002