Portunidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portunidae |
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| Liocarcinus depurator | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Family: | Portunidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Subfamilies | |
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Portunidae is a group, or family, of crabs often called swimming crabs. These amazing creatures include some crabs you might know, like the famous blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and the velvet crab (Necora puber). They are found in many parts of the world, especially near shorelines.
What Makes Swimming Crabs Special?
Swimming crabs have a unique feature: their last pair of legs is flat, like broad paddles! They use these special legs to swim quickly through the water. This helps them move around easily in their ocean homes.
These crabs also have strong, sharp claws. Because they can swim fast and have powerful claws, many swimming crab species are quick and active predators. This means they hunt and eat other smaller animals in the ocean.
Where Do Swimming Crabs Live?
You can find many different kinds of swimming crabs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. These areas have the most types of swimming crabs, showing how well they have adapted to these warm waters.
Types of Swimming Crabs
The Portunidae family is quite large and includes many different groups, called subfamilies, and even more specific types, called genera. Some well-known examples include the Scylla crabs, which are often very large, and the Charybdis crabs. Scientists are always learning more about these fascinating creatures and how they are related to each other.
