black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Carcinus mediterranem Czerniavsky, 1884
Synonyms: Carcinus aestuarii, Nordo 1847
Common names: Engl: Green crab; Bulg: Kriv rak; Rom: Crabul de iarba; Russ:
Travyanoy krab; Turk: Calpara, Cingene pavuryasi; Ukr: Travyany krab
Taxonomic description. A large-sized crab. Carapace smooth, more or less
hexagonal. Posterolateral margin more or less straight, without armature, longer than
anterolateral side, with five prominent sharps anterolateral teeth. Front produced into
three low teeth. Short antenulles with 25 articles. Antennae with a thin flagella.
Dactylus of the fifth pleopods normal, with a long, cylindrical and slightly flattened
claw, four times longer than wide; with strong hyaline tip. The top of the first
pleopods straight or very slightly bent. Size: length 63 mm, width 80 mm. Colour
variable; the upper side generally deep green in adults, while the under side is tinged
with yellow or red.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: VU
Order DECAPODA
Family PORTUNIDAE
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. A littoral species,
found on stony algal grounds, common in Zostera fields. In winter, it may retreat to
30-40 m depth. Inhabits brackish lagoons also. Present throughout the Mediterranean
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