About Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst, 1783)
Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst, 1783), the three-spot swimming crab, is a large crab species that reaches a maximum size of 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in) across. It has a very broad, greyish green carapace marked by three distinct red spots on its posterior half. A strong sharp spine extends from each side of the carapace. This swimming crab species has flattened swimming legs and long claws. It is classified as a cosmopolitan species, with a wide distribution across the world’s major bodies of water. Confirmed recorded localities include the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Java, Australia, and Hawaii. This species is primarily carnivorous, and lives in marine waters. Juvenile individuals are most often found in the intertidal zone. It inhabits substrates ranging from sandy to muddy. While the species is not considered dangerous to humans, a pinch from its claws can cause pain. It is commercially harvested as an edible crab in many countries.
