FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

1142 Crabs
Grapsus albolineatus Lamarck, 1818
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Grapsus strigosus (Herbst, 1799) / None.
FAO name: En - Mottled Sally-light-foot.
Diagnostic characters: Carapace rounded;
front straight, entire; anterolateral margins
rounded, each with 1 tooth; lateral regions
with numerous oblique striae. Fingertips
strongly spooned. Colour: carapace with
green and white transverse markings.
Size: Maximum carapace width 5 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Found out of
the water, on rocks in the splash zone. Collected
only incidentally and consumed by local
residents only. Usually caught by hand or
with special nets.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.
Remarks: Several other Grapsus species
live in the region, but the most common are
G. albolineatus and G. tenuicrustatus (see
below). These 2 species, however, can
easily be separated (see key).
Grapsus tenuicrustatus (Herbst, 1783)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications:
None / None.
FAO name: En - Natal Sally-light-foot.
Diagnostic characters: Carapace rounded;
front straight, finely serrated; anterolateral
margins rounded, each with 1 tooth; lateral
regions with numerous oblique striae. Fingertips
slightly spooned. Colour: carapace with
green and white transverse markings.
Size: Maximum carapace width 8 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Found out
of the water, on rocks in the splash zone.
Collected only incidentally and consumed by
local residents. Usually caught by hand or
with special nets. Probably the most common
representative of Grapsus among
several species occurring in the area.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, including
French Polynesia and Hawaii.