Liocarcinus depurator, sometimes called the harbour crab[2] or sandy swimming crab,[3] is a species of crab found in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea.[4] It grows up to 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in width and 40 mm (1.6 in) long,[5] and can be distinguished from other crabs, such as the shore crab Carcinus maenas, by the curved rows of white spots on its carapace.[2]

Liocarcinus depurator
Adult L. depurator
L. depurator for sale at a market
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Superfamily: Portunoidea
Family: Polybiidae
Genus: Liocarcinus
Species:
L. depurator
Binomial name
Liocarcinus depurator
Synonyms

Portunus plicatus Risso, 1816

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It has a synonym, Portunus plicatus, which was given by Antoine Risso in 1816.[1]

The females in this species reach maturity within their first year of life. They reach their peak of reproduction during the winter time in the Mediterranean.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b P. K. L. Ng, D. Guinot & P. J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06.
  2. ^ a b Kåre Telnes. "Harbour crab Liocarcinus depurator". The Marine Fauna Gallery of Norway. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22.
  3. ^ Andy Horton & Jane Lilley. "Crabs of the seashore of the British Isles". British Marine Life Study Society.
  4. ^ A. Suat Ateş. "Liocarcinus depurator (Linnaeus, 1758) and Brachynotus sexdentatus (Risso, 1827) (Decapoda, Brachyura): two new records for the Turkish Black Sea fauna" (PDF). Turkish Journal of Zoology. 23 (1999): 115–118. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  5. ^ J. M. Hill (2008). "Liocarcinus depurator. Harbour crab". Marine Life Information Network. Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  6. ^ Pascula, Marta; Palero, Ferran; García-Merchán, Víctor; Macpherson, Enrique; Robainas-Barcia, Aymée; Francesc, Mestres; Tania, Roda; Pere, Abelló (July 19, 2016). "Temporal and spatial genetic differentiation in the crab Liocarcinus depurator across the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition". Scientific Reports. 6: 10. Bibcode:2016NatSR...629892P. doi:10.1038/srep29892. PMC 4949458. PMID 27431989.