Swimming Crab
Swimming Crab
Portunidae
CommonPortunidaeMay bite
ID points
- The last pair of walking legs ends in flattened paddles
- Carapace spindle-shaped and wide, pointed at each side
- Can truly swim sideways through the water
Basics
- Family
- Portunidae
- Length
- 10–20 cm
- Depth
- 0-50 m
- Regions
- Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic
- Distribution
- Sandy bottoms in warm seas worldwide
- Diet
- Fish, molluscs and carrion
Easily confused with
BlennyOften has forked fleshy tentacles above the eyes
Boxer CrabEach claw holds a small anemone like a boxing glove
Cone SnailCone-shaped shell patterned like printed clothFun fact
The last pair of walking legs is flattened into paddle-shaped swimming legs, letting it move quickly through open water. No crab in the family swims better.
Open in the field guide - stacking filters and ID training >