Relevant Synonyms - Misidentification -  photo : Pere Abello

SHORT DESCRIPTION Carapace broad, smooth. Median and submedian frontal teeth subequal and blunt, lateral teeth triangular, separated from submedian by distinct notch. Anterolateral margin with six teeth, 1st truncate, nearly bifid, 2nd to 5th broad, increasing in size distally, 6th pointed laterally. Chelipeds smooth, anterior border of merus bearing 3 strong spines, manus with 4 spines on upper surface. Natatory legs with posterior border of propodus smooth. Male abdomen with penultimate segment broader than long, lateral borders convex. color : carapace dorsally grayish-brown, with 5 pale brown longitudinal bands, and a central cross-shaped pattern; chelipeds mottled brownish-green. common size : males CL 11 cm (max). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS 1st anterolateral tooth nearly bifid, following teeth very broad; carapace with conspicuous longitudinal pale cross-shaped mark. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Juveniles have been repeatedly observed between the oral arms of large Scyphomedusae. habitat : mostly on sandy or muddy areas, 5-15 m depth; occasionally in rocky areas, or on coral reef flats.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Spain, 2006 [2004]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from South and East Africa to China and Japan. Mediterranean : a single specimen was collected in December 2004, at depth of 60-70m, off Barcelona, Spain (Abello and Hispano, 2006). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Known from a single record. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Probably accidental escape from seafood holding tanks of vessel arriving from the Far East. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS Of commercial value, exported throughout East Asia.

KEY REFERENCES Abello P. and C. Hispano, 2006. The capture of the Indo-Pacific crab Charybdis feriata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquatic invasions, 1: 13-16 (e-journal). Apel M. and V.A. Spiridonov, 1998. Taxonomy and zoogeography of the portunid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) of the Arabian Gulf and adjacent waters. Fauna of Arabia, 17: 159-331. Crosnier A., 1962. Crustacés décapodes Portunidae. Faune de Madagascar, 16: 1-154.   FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: October 2008 ©ciesm 2002