Charybdis feriata   (Linnaeus, 1758)

Crucifix crab
Upload your photos 
 | All pictures | Google image |
Image of Charybdis feriata (Crucifix crab)
Charybdis feriata

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Malacostraca | Decapoda | Portunidae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Benthic; depth range 5 - 118 m (Ref. 125642).  Tropical; 33°N - 33°S, 29°E - 168°E

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Indo-West Pacific: reaching Japan and Australia. Subtropical and tropical climates.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?, range 5 - ? cm Max length : 20.0 cm CW male/unsexed; (Ref. 343)

Short description Morphology

Carapace ovate; 5 distinct teeth on each anterolateral margin. Color: distinctive pattern of longitudinal stripes of maroon and white, usually with distinct white cross on median part of gastric region; legs and pincers with numerous scattered with white spots.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Especially important in markets in East Asia, where it commands substantially higher premium prices being sold for US$8 to US$15 per kg. Minimum depth range from Ref. 121712. Occurs at depths from 30 to 60 m, in sandy-muddy substrates, subtropical and tropical climates (Ref. 343). Usually occurs in sublittoral environment (Ref. 121718), on rocky intertidal (Ref. 104840) and stony coasts (Refs. 121712, 121718), including reef flats at depths of around 10-60 m (Ref. 121718). Also found in estuarine area (Ref. 108435) and offshore (Ref. 121719). Juveniles live in sandy coastal and intertidal habitats; adults are preferentially found in deeper muddy areas (Ref. 121720). Juveniles reported to be found symbiotic under bells of jellyfish (Ref. 125642).

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.

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Ng, P.K.L. 1998. (Ref. 343)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Not Evaluated 

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial
| FishSource |

Tools

E-book | Field guide

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items
Common names
Synonyms
Predators
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development
Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Morphology
Larvae
Abundance
References
Mass conversion
Collaborators
Pictures

Internet sources

BHL | BOLD Systems | CISTI | DiscoverLife | FAO(Publication : search) | Fishipedia | GenBank (genome, nucleotide) | GloBI | Gomexsi | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | PubMed | Tree of Life | Wikipedia (Go, Search) | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 23.4 - 28.6, mean 27.6 (based on 308 cells).
Resilience (Ref. 69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.63-1.8).
Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.