FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Calappidae 1095
Matuta victor (Fabricius, 1781)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Matuta lunaris Forsskål, 1775 (in part); M. peronii Leach,
1817; M. lesuerii Leach, 1817; M. crebripunctata Miers, 1877 / None.
FAO name: En - Common moon crab.
chela (outer surface)
Diagnostic characters: Carapace rounded, with 2 long, well-developed lateral spines; anterolateral
margins gently serrated. Outer surface of palm with low but distinct oblique ridge. Colour: yellowish ground
colour with numerous fine black spots and several larger ones on carapace; legs and chelae bright yellow.
Size: Maximum carapace width 5 cm (excluding lateral spines).
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Prefers sandy areas, from the intertidal zone to depths of about 20 m.
Often caught by local communities in nets, by hand, or beach seines.
Distribution: Southeast Asia to the Philippines, New Caledonia, Fiji, and New Hebrides.
Remarks: The identity of Matuta victor has been badly confused with Ashtoret lunaris (Forsskål, 1775)
and Matuta banksii Leach, 1817. The recent revision by Galil and Clark (1994) has shown that the type
material of Cancer lunaris Forsskål, 1775, is mixed and Matuta banksii is in fact a junior synonym of
Ashtoret lunaris. The common Indo-West Pacific species with the carapace pattern of fine black spots
which has been identified at one time or another as Matuta lunaris, M. victor, or M. banksii, is actually
either Matuta victor or Ashtoret lunaris.