Description: This crab has a heart-shaped carapace that is reddish brown, usually variegated with dark brown. Some individuals are reported to have a ‘fleur-de-lis’ pattern on the carapace. Five teeth on each side of the carapace, with the fourth pair noticeably small, sometimes very reduced. Pincers are not quite equal in size. There are longitudinal grooves on all pairs of walking legs, except the last pair which forms into a broad paddle, although this paddle is usually smaller than that found in other species of swimming crab.

Habitat: Reported from between tide marks and possibly found further out, this crab tends to bury itself in the sand (usually 1-2 cm deep).

Distribution: There are records from all coasts of Britain and Ireland, but it is much more commonly recorded in southern areas.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with other swimming crabs, however this crab has a distinctively shaped carapace.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinctive heart-shaped carapace.
• Reddish brown variegated with dark brown.
• Five teeth on each side of carapace, with the fourth pair small/reduced.

Distribution Map from NBN: Portumnus latipes at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Portumnus latipes at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Portumnus latipes

WoRMS: Portumnus latipes at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Portumnus latipes (Pennant, 1777). AphiaID: 107400.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Eucarida; Decapoda; Pleocyemata; Brachyura; Eubrachyura; Heterotremata; Portunoidea; Carcinidae; Platyonichinae; Portumnus