FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

1148 Crabs
2a. Legs very long (Fig. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cardisoma longipes
2b. Legs of normal length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 3
3a. Surface of carapace with numerous scattered flattened to rounded granules (Fig. 4)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cardisoma rotundum
3b. Surface of carapace smooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 4
4a. Carapace transversely ovate; face (pterygostomial and sub-branchial regions) with
large setose area which covers anterior part of the branchiostegal region; stiff setae
present on merus of legs; males with 2 equally enlarged chelae; carapace bluish brown
to blue coloration in life (Fig. 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cardisoma hirtipes
4b. Carapace circular; face (pterygostomial and sub-branchial regions) with small setose
area which does not reach branchiostegal region; short (or no) setae on merus of legs;
males with 1 cheliped several times size of other; carapace brown in life (Fig. 6) . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cardisoma carnifex
List of species of interest to fisheries occurring in the area
The symbol is given when species accounts are included.
Cardisoma carnifex (Herbst, 1794)
Cardisoma hirtipes Dana, 1852
Cardisoma longipes (A. Milne Edwards, 1873)
Cardisoma rotundum (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824)
Gecarcoidea lalandii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837)
Fig. 3 Cardisoma longipes
(from A. Milne Edwards, 1873)
flattened to
rounded
granules
Fig. 4 Cardisoma rotundum
Fig. 5 Cardisoma hirtipes Fig. 6 Cardisoma carnifex
References
Burggren, W.W. and B.R. McMahon (eds). 1988. The biology of land crabs. Cambridge University Press, 479 p.
Türkay, M. 1974. Die Gecarcinidae Asiens und Ozeaniens (Crustacea: Decapoda). Senckenb. Biol., 55:223-259.