Systematic Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Crustacea
Order: Decapoda
Family: Portunidae
Genus: Portunus
Species: Portunus sanguinolentus
(Herbst, 1783)
Common name: Blood spotted crab
Chinese name: 三點蟹

Carapace with 3 large blood-red spots. Three pairs of ridges of the carapace distinct: mesogastric, epibranchial and metagastric. Front cut into 4 lobes. Anterolateral margin of carapace armed with 9 teeth. The ninth the largest, projecting laterally. Last ambulatory legs with fine fringing hairs, no spine on posterior margin of merus of chelipeds. Fingers very long, the movable finger with a blood-red spot.

Sandy or muddy bottoms, 10-30 m deep.

Male up to 140mm (carapace width)
Female up to 150mm (carapace width)

Hong Kong - Southern waters, Western waters, Mirs Bay, Tolo Harbour. China - Guangxi, Guangdong, Taiwan Island, Fujian ; Japan, Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Malay Archipelago.