Robust Swim Crab,  Euphylax robustus

Robust Swim Crab, Euphylax robustus. Provided by the commercial fishermen in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, July 2009. Size: 9.0 cm (3.5 inches) x 6.3 cm (2.5 inches).

General info: The Robust Swim Crab is a crab apart of the Portunidae Family of swim crabs. Due to lack of research not much information is known about the Robust Swim Crab.

Identification: The Robust swim crabs most notable characteristics are its long purple eye stalks with its black eyes on the ends. The carapace of this species is dull, not polished like other swim crab species being a dark greenish/blue color that is wider than it is long. Their legs are a purple/blue and the chealipeds robust and a light orange color with the tips of the chelae being a dark red. They have three well developed spines on the anterior margin of each arm. and the wrist having a spine on the in and outer side. The carapace has four anterolateral spines the second from the front being much shorter than the others.

Habitat and Range: The Robust Swim Crab ranges from El Golfo de Santa Clara, Sonora, south to the gulf to Peru. This species has also been collected at Puerto Peñasco, Sonora,. most often found swimming or walking in intertidal zones of up to 30 meters (98 feet).

Diet: The Robust Swim Crab is a carnivorous scavenger having a wide range of food options typically consuming small marine organisms such as small crustaceans, mollusks, small fish,  and detritus.

Conservation Status: From a conservation perspective the Robust Swim Crab has not been formally evaluated. However, they are common and of limited interest to most and should be considered to be of Least Concern.