PORT PHILLIP BAY


Rough Rock Crab 

Nectocarcinus integrifrons (Latreille, 1825)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Carapace convex, uninterrupted or sometimes with a very shallow and minute central notch; dorsal surface covered with tubercles; front (in larger specimens) with single row of numerous small rounded tubercles; epibranchial region with groups of tubercles merging with those on dorsal surface of anterolateral teeth; 4 anterolateral teeth; chela palm outer surface with tubercles in transverse rows, none more prominent or more darkly coloured than any other.

Source: Poore, G.C.B. (2004) Marine decapod Crustacea of southern Australia. A guide to identification (with chapter on Stomatopoda by Shane Ahyong). CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, 574 pp.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Subclass:
Eumalacostraca
Superorder:
Eucarida
Order:
Decapoda
Suborder:
Pleocyemata
Infraorder:
Brachyura
Family:
Portunidae
Subfamily:
Carcininae
Genus:
Nectocarcinus
Species:
integrifrons

General Description

Carapace split into two colours: brown-purple at front, grey at the rear. Rear leg flattened and pointed at tip. Up to 8 cm wide (carapace).

Biology

Rough Rock Crabs are active during the day. When a male finds a female to mate with, he carries her around between his claws until she moults and is ready to mate.

Habitat

Seaweed, reef and sand areas, to depth of 20 m.

Reefs

Soft substrates

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Crabs and allies › Crabs

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

8 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Not harmful but a nip from claws could be painful.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 987

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Taylor, J.

Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Poore, G.C.B.

Dr. Gary Poore is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Poore, G.C.B., 2011, Rough Rock Crab, Nectocarcinus integrifrons, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/3994

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