FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

1090 Crabs
A single species of interest to fisheries occurring in the area.
Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Ranina dentata H. Milne Edwards, 1837 / None.
FAO name: En - Spanner crab.
Diagnostic characters: Carapace very elongate, much longer than broad; anterior part much broader
than narrow, posterior part waist-like. Abdomen clearly visible from dorsal view. Chelae greatly outsized in
males; chelae and legs laterally flattened, spade-like. Colour: orange to red overall.
Size: Maximum carapace length 15 cm (males) and 12 cm (females); weight up to 900 g (males) and 400 g
(females).
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Mainly in more oceanic waters, but also in intertidal waters, to depths of
more than 100 m, with preference for open sandy areas. Harvested throughout its range, taken by trawls,
dredges, baited tangle nets, and bottom nets. A widely exploited species in the Philippines, eastern
Indonesia, East Asia, and eastern and northern Australia. The fishery for Ranina ranina in Australia has
grown substantially in the 1980s and is probably one of the largest for this species, with almost 700 t landed
in Queensland and New South Wales from 1989 to 1990. Large specimens command very high prices,
especially in live-seafood markets. Prices in Australia amount to about US$2 to US$3 per kg, while live
specimens in Hong Kong (China) and Taiwan Province of China are sold for US$5 to US$10 per kg. The
fishery for this species is managed in Australia but not elsewhere.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, including Australia, Guam, New Caledonia, and Hawaii.