Charybdis feriata
Striped Swimming Crab
A strikingly banded portunid crab of Indo-Pacific waters, valued in coastal fisheries.
About the Species
Charybdis feriata, the striped swimming crab (also called the striped swimming crab or "flower crab" in some markets), is a portunid crab distributed across the Indo-West Pacific, from the east coast of Africa and the Persian Gulf to Japan, China and Australia. It inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms from the shallow subtidal to about 80 m.
The carapace is smooth with prominent ridges and bold maroon to dark-brown bands across a cream background, reaching roughly 6–9 cm wide. The last pair of legs is flattened into swimming paddles typical of the family Portunidae. It is commercially trawled and marketed fresh across much of Southeast Asia.
Note for editors: verify current taxonomic synonyms and fishery statistics before publication.
Classification
Characteristics
01Appearance
A robust swimming crab with a smooth, broadly oval carapace 6–9 cm wide, six frontal teeth between the eyes and nine sharp teeth on each side edge. The last pair of legs is paddle-shaped for swimming. Claws are stout and unequal; legs carry dark banding.
02Coloration
Cream to pale tan background with bold maroon, reddish-brown or black transverse bands across the carapace and walking legs — the source of its common name.
03Habitat
Sandy and muddy substrates in coastal waters, estuaries and continental shelves from the intertidal down to about 80 m, across the Indo-West Pacific. Often burrows shallowly to ambush prey.
04Diet
An opportunistic carnivore-scavenger: small fishes, bivalves, gastropods, crustaceans and polychaetes, crushed with powerful claws; also takes carrion and detritus.
05Life Cycle
Mating occurs after the female moults; females can store sperm for multiple clutches. Eggs are carried under the abdomen in a sponge-like mass of up to a million; larvae pass through several planktonic zoeal stages and a megalopa before settling as juveniles. Lifespan is typically 1–2 years.
06Fishery Importance
Widely landed in bottom trawl and pot fisheries in Southeast and South Asia and sold fresh or frozen; an affordable, popular table crab. Regional landings data should be consulted for up-to-date fishery status.