FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Gecarcinidae 1149
Cardisoma carnifex (Herbst, 1794)
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Cardisoma urvillei H. Milne Edwards, 1853; C. obesum Dana,
1851 / None.
FAO name: En - Brown land crab.
Diagnostic characters: Carapace subovate, swollen, surface smooth; setose area on pterygostomial and
subbranchial regions small, not extending to branchiostegal region. Third maxilliped with well-developed
flagellum on exopod, entirely covered by setae. Adult males with one chela greatly enlarged. Merus of legs
not distinctly lined with stiff setae. Colour: brown to brownish grey.
Size: Maximum carapace width 12 cm (males).
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: In back mangroves or similar brackish-water habitats. Completely
terrestrial crabs, living near the sea and excavating deep burrows. The larvae are released into the sea
and return back to land upon completion of their development. Cardisoma carnifex is collected in
substantial numbers whenever it is common, but has a comparatively low market value. It is usually caught
by hand at night, or with special traps placed at the mouth of its burrow. The crabs are sold live. There have
been reports that some land crabs are poisonous but this is almost certainly associated with their diet, as
these herbivorous crabs sometimes consume poisonous plants. Once they are kept for short periods and
their guts are empty however, they are safe for human consumption. Three other species of Cardisoma are
found in the area, C. hirtipes Dana, 1852, C. rotundum and C. longipes (A. Milne Edwards, 1873) (see
abbreviated species accounts below), but these are only of minor food value, being much less common
than C. carnifex.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.