black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Macropipus arcuatus Leach, 1814
Synonyms: Portunus rondeletii Risso, 1816; P. longipes Rathke, 1837
Common names: Bulg: Rak plubet; Rom: Crabul rosu; Russ: Krab-plavunets; Turk:
Calpara; Ukr: Krab-plavunets'
Taxonomic description. Front not produced into teeth; anterolateral margin of
carapace with four unequal teeth; the third small, hardly visible. Flagellum of antenna
about 2.5 times longer than eye. Chelipeds big, with 2-3 ridges in male, smaller and
smooth in female. Carpus with strong postero-superior spine. Fingers with few teeth
(2-3); terminal teeth small. Dactylus of the fifth pereiopods like a lance, consolidated
by a longitudinal ridge. Female with abdomen larger than male, yet not covering the
eggs completely. Size: length -18 mm; width - 22 mm. Colour red-purple in
specimens from Phyllophora fields.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: VU
Order DECAPODA
Family PORTUNIDAE
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. An iliophilic
species, found down to depths of 30-70 m. Favourite biotope: very deep bottoms
covered by P/iyfibp/iora ooze. Treatened by shrinking of Phyllophora fields.
Biology. A species with a high fecundity (up to 3,000 eggs); reproduction begins in
spring. Eggs yellow, in clusters, with 3-4 eggs into a verticillum.
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