Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst, 1783)
Threespot swimming crab
Portunus sanguinolentus
photo by Poppe, Guido and Philippe

Family:  Portunidae (swimming crabs)
Max. size:  20 cm CW (male/unsexed); 21.5 cm CW (female); max. reported age: 3 years
Environment:  benthic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 80 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific. From East Africa to French Polynesia, north to Japan and south to Australia. Tropical to temperate.
Diagnosis:  Carapace finely granulose, regions just discernible; 9 teeth on each anterolateral margin, the last tooth 2 to 3 times larger than preceding teeth. Chelae elongated in males; larger chela with conical tooth at base of fingers; pollex ridged. Color: olive to dark green, with 3 prominent maroon to red spots on posterior 1/3 of carapace. Easily distinguished from other species by its very distinct color markings.
Biology:  Maximum length (female) from Ref. 119750. Occurs from the intertidal zone (especially juveniles) to depths of 30 m (Ref. 343). Subtidal (Ref. 106854). Inhabits sandy to sandy-muddy substrates (Refs. 343, 106287, 125338), in bays and estuaries (Ref. 106287). Also in brackish water (Ref. 801). Subtropical and tropical climates (Ref. 343). Mainly a predator of sessile and slow-moving benthic macroinvertebrates (Ref. 102720); may be a scavenger (Ref. 100855). Omnivore (Ref. 116259).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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