Systematic Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Crustacea
Order: Decapoda
Family: Portunidae
Genus: Charybdis
Species: Charybdis feriatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Chinese name: 紅蟹

Carapace with redish pattern and conspicuous cross-shaped light mark. Mesogastric, cardiac and mesobranchial regions convex, meso- and metagastric regions each with a pair of obscure carinae, epibranchial ridge present. Front divided into 6 teeth. Anterolateral margin cut into 6 teeth; the first truncate and concave in the median of the anterior margin; the last one the smallest, but acuter and more projecting. Chelipeds stout, asymmetrical. Merus armed with 3 strong teeth on the distal half of anterior margin and with granules or denticles on the proximal half.

Rocky or stony coast, in 10-30 m deep waters or coral reef flats.

Male up to 120mm (Carapace width)
Female up to 110mm (Carapace width)

Hong Kong - Southern Waters, Tolo Harbour; China - Guangxi, Guangdong, Taiwan, Fujian; Japan, Australia, India, Tanzania, East Africa, South Africa, and Madagascar.