FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Carpiliidae 1111
Carpilius convexus (Forsskål, 1775)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None.
FAO name: En - Red reef crab.
Diagnostic characters: Carapace ovate; dorsal
surface very smooth and convex. Colour: uniform
red to reddish brown, with irregular dark brown
patches on the dorsal surface of carapace.
Size: Maximum carapace width 15 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: A reef crab.Biology
and fisheries similar to Carpilius maculatus (see
below).
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, reaching Hawaii
and French Polynesia.
Remarks: C. convexus is easily distinguished from
C. maculatus by its distinct coloration which remains
even after preservation.
Carpilius maculatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None.
FAO name: En - Spotted reef crab.
Diagnostic characters: Carapace ovate; dorsal
surface very smooth and convex. Colour: cream
to pink ground colour, with 9 large violet to maroon
spots on dorsal surface of carapace: 3 on median
region, 2 on posterior region, 2 on anterolateral
region, and 2 around the orbits.
Size: Maximum carapace width 18 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: A reef crab. Collected
extensively for food, although never in large
quantities. Frequently seen in markets of East Asia
and parts of Indonesia, but only in small numbers.
Usually collected by hand or with baited
traps. There have been reports that this
species is poisonous, but this could not
been confirmed by biochemical tests. It is
possible that after feeding on poisonous
molluscs, the crabs become toxic for a
short period as well.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, reaching
Hawaii and French Polynesia.
Remarks: The only other species of Carpilius
in the area is C. convexus, which can
easily be distinguished by its very different
coloration.