crabs text index | photo index
Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Portunidae
Swimming crabs
How to tell them apart?
updated Aug 08
Swamped by swimming crabs? Several different kinds of swimming crabs can be found on our shores.
Here's more on how to tell them apart.
Flower crab
(Portunus pelagicus)
Body fan-shaped
Nine 'teeth on the side of the
body shell, the last one is
enlarged into a long spine.
Eyes are not far apart.
Purple-legged swimming crab
(Charybdis sp.)
Body fan-shaped
Six 'teeth' on the side of the
body shell, all of equal length.
Eyes are not far apart.
Mud crab
(Scylla sp.)
Body fan-shaped
Nine 'teeth' on the side of
the body shell, all of equal length
Eyes not far apart
Red swimming crab
(Thalamita spinimana)
Body is rather rectangular.
Five' teeth' on the
side of the body shell.
The eyes are very wide apart
Chocolate swimming crab
(Thalamita sp.)
Body rather rectangular
Five' teeth' on the
side of the body shell.
The eyes are wide apart
Blue swimming crab
(Thalamita sp.)
Body rather rectangular
Five' teeth' on the
side of the body shell.
The eyes are wide apart
Blue-spined swimming crab
(Thalamita sp.)
Body rather rectangular
Four ' teeth' on the
side of the body shell.
The eyes are very wide apart
More comparisons

Banded-legged swimming crab
Charybdis annulata

Tiny swimming crab
Portunus pelagicus
www.flickr.com
FREE photos of
crabs.
Make your own badge here.
links | references | about | email Ria
Spot errors? Have a question? Want to share your sightings? email Ria I'll be glad to hear from you!
wildfactsheets website©ria tan 2008