Sentinel Crab

Podophthalmus vigil is a species of swimmer crab found in tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, Japan, South Africa, the Red Sea, Australia. In Australia the crab is found across the north from Exmouth to Moreton Bay. It is commonly known as the long-eyed swimmer crab stalk-eyed swimmer crab, red crab, or periscope crab. Like other swimmer crabs the last pair of legs have flattened ends to form paddles. Colors include a greenish brown carapace with possible red spots, claws and legs pale violet, rose red or dark red. The carapace is typically up to 100mm across, very broad at the front, narrow at the back with a spine on each side.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Sentinel Crab being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

• Achelous gibbesii
• Achelous xantusii
• Portunus trituberculatus
• Callinectes bocourti
• Callinectes bellicosus

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Malacostraca

Order

Decapoda

Family

Portunidae

Genus

Podophthalmus

Species

Podophthalmus vigil

More species