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Phylum Arthropoda > Subphylum Crustacea > Class Malacostraca > Order Decapoda > Brachyurans > Family Portunidae
Purple-legged swimming crab
Charybdis hellerii*
Family Portunidae
updated Dec 12

Where seen? This swimming crab with purple legs is commonly seen on our Northern shores. Especially at night.

Features: Body width 5-7cm. Body somewhat fan-shaped with 6 spines on the sides. Body smooth yellowish orange sometimes greenish, legs purple, pincers orange with dark tipped claws.



Pulau Sekudu, Jun 05

Changi, Aug 05

Mating crabs.
Pulau Sekudu, May 04

6 spines on the side of the body.

Eating another swimming crab.
Changi, Aug 08

Ate a clam?
Tuas, Apr 05

Nibbling on seaweed.
East Coast, Aug 09

Purple-legged swimming crabs on Singapore shores

Photos for free download from wildsingapore flickr

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks to Crabhunter for confirmation of ID.

Links References
  • Ng, Peter K. L. and Daniele Guinot and Peter J. F. Davie, 2008. Systema Brachyurorum: Part 1. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Supplement No. 17, 31 Jan 2008. 286 pp. (Online PDF on the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology website).
  • Lim, S., P. Ng, L. Tan, & W. Y. Chin, 1994. Rhythm of the Sea: The Life and Times of Labrador Beach. Division of Biology, School of Science, Nanyang Technological University & Department of Zoology, the National University of Singapore. 160 pp.
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