| Family: |
Portunidae (swimming crabs) |
| Max. size: |
14.2 cm WD (male/unsexed); 9.5 cm WD (female) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: USA to Brazil. |
| Diagnosis: |
Carapace slightly more than twice as broad as long; 9 teeth on arched anterolateral margin (outer orbital tooth and strong lateral spine included), second to eighth usually trending forward, without shoulders, anterior margins concave except first 2; front (excluding outer orbital angles) bearing 4 teeth, inner pair small but definitely formed. Anterior half of convex dorsal surface coarsely granulate, variably finer and more numerous granules on posterior on posterior part and in transverse lines; central trapezoidal (metagastric) area short and wide (anterior width about 2.4 times, posterior width about 1.5 times length). Pincers dissimilar, ridged longitudinally, fingers compressed but broadened dorsoventrally producing pointed spatulate shape; fifth legs flattened in form fifth legs flattened in form of paddles. Male with T-shaped abdomen reaching slightly beyond suture between thoracic sternites 4 and 5, sixth segment nearly parallel-sided but broadened proximally; first pleopods short, reaching about midlength of sternite 7, approximately each other or occasionally overlapping at level of abrupt curve beyond which short terminal part tapers to rather sharp tip; armed with minute scattered retrogressive spinules distally. Color: carapace brown with areas of bluish black. Chelae brown above; fingers dark on external face except for tips and proximal portion, internal face dark in distal 2/3; dark color of fingers retained in preservation. |
| Biology: |
Benthopelagic (Ref. 97531). Inhabits a variety of shallow environments to depths seldom exceeding 15 m, usually 5 m or less; found often in intertidal pools, on sand and muddy flats, algae and grass flats, sand beaches, rocky pools, eroded coral bases, oyster bars, shallows at edges of mangroves, and at the surface under light at night. Feeds on mollusks, other bottom invertebrates, and fishes, carrion and detritus (Ref. 367), |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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| Threat to humans: |
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| Country info: |
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