Liocarcinus depurator | |
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Adult L. depurator | |
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L. depurator for sale at a market | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Decapoda |
Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
Infraorder: | Brachyura |
Superfamily: | Portunoidea |
Family: | Polybiidae |
Genus: | Liocarcinus |
Species: | L. depurator
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Binomial name | |
Liocarcinus depurator | |
Synonyms | |
Portunus plicatus Risso, 1816 |
Liocarcinus depurator, sometimes called the harbour crab[2] or sandy swimming crab,[3] is a species of crab found in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea.[4] It grows up to 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in width and 40 mm (1.6 in) long,[5] and can be distinguished from other crabs, such as the shore crab Carcinus maenas, by the curved rows of white spots on its carapace.[2]
The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It has a synonym, Portunus plicatus, which was given by Antoine Risso in 1816.[1]
The females in this species reach maturity within their first year of life. They reach their peak of reproduction during the winter time in the Mediterranean.[6]