Portunidae is a familyofcrabs which contains the swimming crabs. Its members include many well-known shoreline crabs, such as the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and velvet crab (Necora puber). Two genera in the family are contrastingly named Scylla and Charybdis; the former contains the economically important species black crab (Scylla serrata) and Scylla paramamosain.
| Portunidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Liocarcinus depurator | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Superfamily: | Portunoidea |
| Family: | Portunidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Subfamilies | |
| |
Portunid crabs are characterised by the flattening of the fifth pair of legs into broad paddles, which are used for swimming.[1] This ability, together with their strong, sharp claws, allows many species to be fast and aggressive predators.[1]
Swimming crabs reach their greatest species diversity in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.[2] The following species are recognized in the family Portunidae:
Extinct genera are marked with an obelisk.
Media related to Portunidae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Portunidae at Wikispecies
