General Description
Body mottled dark and pale green-brown, wider than long. Five triangular spines on the side of the carapace behind each eye. The ends of the fourth walking legs are slightly flattened with acute tips. Up to 10 cm wide (carapace).
Biology
European Shore Crabs were first recorded in Port Phillip Bay in 1900, introduced there accidentally as a hitch-hiker on ships from the UK or Europe. It has since spread throughout coastal Victoria, eastern South Australia and northern Tasmania. The crab is very aggressive, with strong chelipeds. It feeds on native shore crabs and may be a threat to these species.
Habitat
Most areas, including rocky reef, seagrass and sand flats, to depth of 60 m.
Reefs
Soft substrates
Seagrass meadows
Coastal shores
Distribution guide
Worldwide. Isolated populations along southern Australian coast. In central Victoria.
Species Group
Depth
Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)
Water Column
Max Size
10 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Harmful
Not harmful but a nip from claws could be painful.
Commercial Species
No
Global Dispersal
Introduced to Australia
Species Code
MoV 1658
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Not listed
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Not listed
Author
Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.
Author
Dr. Gary Poore is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Poore, G.C.B., 2011, European Shore Crab, Carcinus maenas, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 26 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/3880
