Other identification tools | SeaLifeBase

Non-fish Identification: Find Species

Family: Portunidae swimming crabs (See list of species below)

Select Ocean (marine/brackish) or Continent (freshwater):

Select Country (optional):


Total number of spines in dorsal and anal fins (optional)



28 species in Pacific, Southwest with fin ray counts including ? spines in dorsal and ? in anal fins (see list below)
No picture found

Caphyra acheronae
[]
No picture found

Charybdis anisodon
[Twospined arm swimming crab]


Charybdis feriata
[Crucifix crab]


Charybdis hellerii
[Spiny hands]


Charybdis natator
[Ridged swimming crab]


Charybdis truncata
[Blunt-toothed crab]
No picture found

Nectocarcinus antarcticus
[]
No picture found

Nectocarcinus bennetti
[]
No picture found

Ovalipes australiensis
[]
No picture found

Ovalipes catharus
[Paddle crab]
No picture found

Ovalipes elongatus
[]
No picture found

Ovalipes punctatus
[Sand crab]
No picture found

Podophthalmus vigil
[Periscope crab]
No picture found

Portunus armatus
[Blue swimmer crab]


Portunus pelagicus
[Blue swimming crab]


Portunus sanguinolentus
[Threespot swimming crab]
No picture found

Portunus trituberculatus
[Gazami crab]


Scylla serrata
[Indo-Pacific swamp crab]


Thalamita admete
[]
No picture found

Thalamita bouvieri
[]


Thalamita crenata
[Wide front swimcrab]
No picture found

Thalamita danae
[]
No picture found

Thalamita difficilis
[]
No picture found

Thalamita macropus
[]
No picture found

Thalamita prymna
[]
No picture found

Thalamita sima
[Four-lobed swimming crab]
No picture found

Thalamita spinimana
[Spiny claw swimming crab]
No picture found

Thalamitoides quadridens
[]
28 Species of Family Portunidae
(swimming crabs)
Sort by: Species Length
Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm)
Caphyra acheronae Southwest Pacific
Charybdis anisodon Twospined arm swimming crab Indo-West Pacific reachin 4.53 CW
Charybdis feriata Crucifix crab Indo-West Pacific 20 CW
Charybdis hellerii Spiny hands Indo-Pacific. Introduced 7.9 CW
Charybdis natator Ridged swimming crab Indo-West Pacific 17 CW
Charybdis truncata Blunt-toothed crab Indo-West Pacific 5 CW
Nectocarcinus antarcticus Southwest Pacific
Nectocarcinus bennetti Southwest Pacific
Ovalipes australiensis Indo-West Pacific
Ovalipes catharus Paddle crab Southwest Pacific
Ovalipes elongatus Southwest Pacific
Ovalipes punctatus Sand crab Southern Atlantic and Ind 9.5 CW
Podophthalmus vigil Periscope crab Indo-Pacific 15 CW
Portunus armatus Blue swimmer crab Indo-West Pacific 22 CW
Portunus pelagicus Blue swimming crab Indo-West Pacific 20 CW
Portunus sanguinolentus Threespot swimming crab Indo-Pacific. From East 21.5 CW
Portunus trituberculatus Gazami crab Indo-West Pacific. 15.86 CW
Scylla serrata Indo-Pacific swamp crab Indo-West Pacific. Intro 28 CW
Thalamita admete Indo-Pacific. Tropical t
Thalamita bouvieri Indo-Pacific. Tropical t
Thalamita crenata Wide front swimcrab Indo-Pacific. 8 CW
Thalamita danae Indo-Pacific
Thalamita difficilis Southwest Pacific
Thalamita macropus Pacific Ocean.
Thalamita prymna Indo-Pacific.
Thalamita sima Four-lobed swimming crab Indo-Pacific 5.62 CW
Thalamita spinimana Spiny claw swimming crab Indo-West Pacific. 12 CW
Thalamitoides quadridens Indo-Pacific. Tropical t



Other identification tools in SeaLifeBase


Quick Identification
Identification keys
Identification by morphometrics
Identification by pictures:
          If you already know the Family, go to Search SeaLifeBase, select Family and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the family.

          If you already know the Country, go to
Search SeaLifeBase, select Country and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the country.

          If you already know the Ecosystem, go to
Search SeaLifeBase, select Ecosystem and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in SeaLifeBase for the ecosystem.