Malacostraca |
Decapoda |
Xanthidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Reef-associated; depth range 0 - 5 m (Ref. 96667). Tropical; 31°N - 28°S, 33°E - 134°W
Indo-Pacific, from Red Sea eastwards to Hawaii and French Polynesia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 15.0 cm CW male/unsexed; (Ref. 343)
Carapace ovate, surfaces smooth; 8 large teeth on each anterolateral margin (often with smaller denticles between them); front divided into 2 distinct lobes, separated by distinct V-shaped cleft. Carpus of cheliped with 2 spines on inner margin. Pincers are very large and unequal, the arm has 1 to 3 spines on the upper border (Ref. 128968). Color: red to reddish brown overall.
Adults are often found in shallow waters and coral reefs (Ref. 128968). Marginal levels of toxicity were detected in this species which may contribute to human poisoning (Ref. 107779). Occurs at intertidal reef areas. Benthic. Subtropical and tropical climates (Ref. 343). Mildly poisonous (Ref. 103037). Members of the family Xanthidae range from being algal scrapers to aggressive predators (Ref. 103027).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Members of the order Decapoda are mostly gonochoric. Mating behavior: Precopulatory courtship ritual is common (through olfactory and tactile cues); usually indirect sperm transfer.
Ng, P.K.L. 1998 Crabs. p. 1045-1155. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 2. Cephalopods, crustaceans, holothurians and sharks. Rome, FAO. 1998. pp. 687-1396. (Ref. 343)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Poisonous to eat (Ref. 107779)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
| FishSource | Sea Around Us
Tools
More information
Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
Population dynamicsGrowth
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversion
Abundance
Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvae PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 24.9 - 29.3, mean 28.2 (based on 2264 cells).
Fishing Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Price category
Unknown.
Nutrients : Calcium = 109 [35, 184] mg/100g; Iron = 1.59 [1.21, 1.97] mg/100g; Protein = 20.2 [19.2, 21.3] %; Omega3 = 0.285 [0.185, 0.386] g/100g; Selenium = 48.3 [-31.7, 128.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 μg/100g; Zinc = 1.79 [1.17, 2.40] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
