In the waters in and around New Zealand, 77 living species of crabs (and 10 species of crab-like Anomura) have been recorded, along with a further 24 species of fossil crabs (marked with an obelisk). Of the extant

crab Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all the ...

s, 37 are endemic to New Zealand (marked in boldface). The taxonomy below follows Ng ''et al.'' (2008) for the extant species, and De Grave ''et al.'' (2009) for the fossils. Almost all the species are marine, with a single

freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include ...

species, ''

Amarinus lacustris ''Amarinus lacustris'' is a species of freshwater crab from Australia, New Zealand and nearby islands, where it lives in water of various salinities. It grows up to wide, with an H-shaped groove on its back. It is an omnivore and is eaten b ...

'' (

Hymenosomatidae Hymenosomatidae is a family of crabs with some 110 described species in nearly 20 genera. The following genera are placed in the Hymenosomatidae: *'' Amarinus'' *'' Apechocinus'' *'' Cancrocaeca'' *'' Crustaenia'' *'' Elamena'' *'' Elamenopsis ...

). An updated checklist published in 2010 lists 167 species of Brachyura, plus a little over 50 species of crab-like Anomura. This list (of N.Z. Decapoda) has been republished with annotations in 2011.

Brachyura

Section Dromiacea

;

Dromiidae Dromiidae is a family of crabs, often referred to as sponge crabs. They are small or medium-sized crabs which get their name from the ability to shape a living sponge into a portable shelter for themselves.Encarta Reference Library Premium 2005 D ...

*'' Petalomera wilsoni'' (Fulton & Grant, 1902) ;

Homolidae The family Homolidae, known as carrier crabs or porter crabs, contains 14 genera of marine crabs. They mostly live on the continental slope and continental shelf, and are rarely encountered. Members of the Homolidae have their fifth pereiopods ...

*'' Dagnaudus petterdi'' (Grant, 1905) *'' Homola orientalis'' Henderson, 1888 *'' Yaldwynopsis spinimanus'' (Griffin, 1965) ;

Latreilliidae Latreilliidae is a small family of crabs. They are relatively small, long-legged crabs found on soft bottoms at depths of up in mostly tropical and subtemperate waters around the world. Their carapace is very small and doesn’t cover the bases ...

*''

Eplumula australiensis ''Eplumula'' is a genus of crabs in the family Latreilliidae. It is found off the coasts of eastern Asia, commonly China, Japan, and Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of th ...

'' (Henderson, 1888)

Section Raninoida

;

Raninidae Raninidae is a family of unusual crabs, sometimes known as "frog crabs", on account of their frog-like appearance. They are taken by most scientists to be quite primitive among the true crabs. They closely resemble the (unrelated) mole crabs, du ...

*'' Hemioon novozelandicum'' Glaessner, 1980 † *'' Laeviranina perarmata'' Glaessner, 1960 † *''

Lyreidus elegans ''Lyreidus'' is a genus of crabs in the family Raninidae, containing the following species: *'' Lyreidus brevifrons'' Sakai, 1937 *'' Lyreidus stenops'' Wood-Mason, 1887 *''Lyreidus tridentatus ''Lyreidus tridentatus'' is a species of crab ...

'' Glaessner, 1960 † *''

Lyreidus tridentatus ''Lyreidus tridentatus'' is a species of crab in the family Raninidae. Description This species as an unusual carapace in that it is longer than it is wide. Males grow to about 5.2 cm long and 1.3 cm wide. Females grow to 3 cm wi ...

'' De Haan 1841 *''

Lyreidus waitakiensis ''Lyreidus'' is a genus of crabs in the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain ...

'' Glaessner, 1980 † *'' Ranilia pororariensis'' Glaessner, 1980 †

Section Cyclodorippoida

; Cymonomidae *'' Cymonomus aequilonius'' Dell, 1971 *'' Cymonomus bathamae'' Dell, 1971 ; Torynommidae *'' Torynomma flemingi'' Glaessner, 1980 †

Section Heterotremata

;

Leucosiidae Leucosiidae is a family of crabs containing three subfamilies and a number of genera ''incertae sedis'': ;Cryptocneminae Stimpson, 1907 * '' Cryptocnemus'' Stimpson, 1858 * '' Leucisca'' MacLeay, 1838 * '' Lissomorpha'' Ward, 1933 * '' Onych ...

*''

Ebalia laevis ''Ebalia'' is a genus of crab in the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain t ...

'' (Bell, 1855) *'' Merocryptus lambriformis'' A. Milne-Edwards, 1873 *''

Tanaoa pustulosus Tangaroa (Takaroa in the South Island) is the great of the sea, lakes, rivers, and creatures that live within them, especially fish, in Māori mythology. As Tangaroa-whakamau-tai he exercises control over the tides. He is sometimes depicted as ...

'' (Wood-Mason ''in'' Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891) ; Majidae *'' Eurynolambrus australis'' H. Milne-Edwards & Lucas, 1841 *'' Eurynome bituberculata'' Griffin, 1964 *'' Jacquinotia edwardsi'' (Jacquinot, 1853) *''

Leptomithrax atavus ''Leptomithrax'' is a genus of crabs in the family Majidae, first described by Edward J. Miers in 1876. They have been on Earth for 37.2 million years. Species Extant species * '' Leptomithrax australis'' (Jacquinot in Jacquinot & Lucas, ...

'' Glaessner, 1960 † *'' Leptomithrax australis'' (Jacquinot ''in'' Jacquinot & Lucas, 1853) *'' Leptomithrax garricki'' Griffin, 1966 *''

Leptomithrax irirangi ''Leptomithrax'' is a genus of crabs in the family Majidae, first described by Edward J. Miers in 1876. They have been on Earth for 37.2 million years. Species Extant species * '' Leptomithrax australis'' (Jacquinot in Jacquinot & Lucas, ...

'' Glaessner, 1960 † *''

Leptomithrax longimanus ''Leptomithrax'' is a genus of crabs in the family Majidae, first described by Edward J. Miers in 1876. They have been on Earth for 37.2 million years. Species Extant species * '' Leptomithrax australis'' (Jacquinot in Jacquinot & Lucas, ...

'' Miers, 1876 *'' Leptomithrax longipes'' (Thomson, 1902) *''

Leptomithrax tuberculatus ''Leptomithrax'' is a genus of crabs in the family Majidae, first described by Edward J. Miers in 1876. They have been on Earth for 37.2 million years. Species Extant species * '' Leptomithrax australis'' (Jacquinot in Jacquinot & Lucas, ...

'' Whitelegge, 1900 *''

Leptomithrax uruti ''Leptomithrax'' is a genus of crabs in the family Majidae, first described by Edward J. Miers in 1876. They have been on Earth for 37.2 million years. Species Extant species * '' Leptomithrax australis'' (Jacquinot in Jacquinot & Lucas, ...

'' Glaessner, 1960 † *'' Notomithrax minor'' (Filhol, 1885) *'' Notomithrax peronii'' (H. Milne-Edwards, 1834) *''

Notomithrax ursus ''Notomithrax ursus'', known as the hairy seaweed crab, is a spider crab of the family Majidae Majidae is a family of crabs, comprising around 200 marine species inside 52 genera, with a carapace that is longer than it is broad, and which ...

'' (Herbst, 1788) *'' Prismatopus filholi'' (A. Milne-Edwards, 1876) *'' Teratomaia richardsoni'' (Dell, 1960) ;

Inachidae Inachidae is a family of crabs, containing 39 genera: *'' Achaeopsis'' Stimpson, 1857 *'' Achaeus'' Leach, 1815 *'' Anisonotus'' A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 *'' Anomalothir'' Miers, 1879 *'' Bothromaia'' Williams & Moffitt, 1991 *'' Calypsachaeus'' ...

*'' Achaeus curvirostris'' (A. Milne-Edwards, 1873) *'' Cyrtomaia lamellata'' Rathbun, 1906 *'' Dorhynchus ramusculus'' (Baker, 1906) *'' Platymaia maoria'' Dell, 1963 *'' Platymaia n.sp'' *'' Trichoplatus huttoni'' A. Milne-Edwards, 1876 ;

Inachoididae Inachoididae is a family of crabs originally erected by James Dwight Dana James Dwight Dana FRS FRSE (February 12, 1813 – April 14, 1895) was an American geologist, mineralogist, volcanologist, and zoologist. He made pioneering studies of m ...

*''

Pyromaia tuberculata ''Pyromaia tuberculata'' is a species of crab in the family Inachoididae. Taxonomy ''Pyromaia tuberculata'', also known as the fire crab, was first described by Lockington in 1877 off the coast of San Diego, California. The familial classific ...

'' (Lockington, 1877) ;

Epialtidae Epialtidae is a family of crabs, containing the subfamilies: * Epialtinae MacLeay, 1838 * Pisinae Pisinae is a subfamily of crabs in the family Epialtidae, comprising the following genera: * '' Acanthophrys'' A. Milne-Edwards, 1865 * '' Ana ...

*'' Actinotocarcinus chidgeyi'' Jenkins, 1974 † *'' Rochinia riversandersoni'' (Alcock, 1895) *'' Leptomaia tuberculata'' Griffin & Tranter, 1986 ;

Atelecyclidae Atelecyclidae is a family of crabs belonging to the superfamily Cancroidea, and currently contains eight genera of which two are extinct. However, the genera other than '' Atelecyclus'' and '' Pseudocorystes'' do not belong in the Cancroidea, and ...

*'' Pteropeltarion novaezelandiae'' Dell, 1972 *'' Trichopeltarion fantasticum'' Richardson & Dell, 1964 *'' Trichopeltarion greggi'' Dell, 1969 † ;

Cancridae Cancridae is a family of crabs. It comprises six extant genera, and ten exclusively fossil genera, in two subfamilies: Extant Genera Cancrinae Latreille, 1802 *'' Anatolikos'' Schweitzer & Feldmann, 2000 * ''Cancer'' Linnaeus, 1758 *''Glebocarci ...

*''

Metacarcinus novaezelandiae ''Metacarcinus'' is a genus of crabs formerly included in the genus ''Cancer''. It includes nine exclusively fossil species and five extant species, of which four are also known from the fossil record. A molecular study using the cytochrome ox ...

'' (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846) ; Tumidocarcinidae *'' Tumidocarcinus dentatus'' Glaessner, 1960 † *'' Tumidocarcinus giganteus'' Glaessner, 1960 † *'' Tumidocarcinus tumidus'' (Woodward, 1876) † ;

Dorippidae Dorippidae is a small family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of ...

*?'' Eodorippe spedeni'' Glaessner, 1980 † ; Macropipidae *'' Pororaria eocenica'' Glaessner, 1980 † ; Portunidae *'' Ovalipes catharus'' (White ''in'' White & Doubleday, 1843) *'' Ovalipes molleri'' (Ward, 1933) *'' Ovalipes sp A.'' Glaessner, 1960 † *'' Portunus pelagicus'' (Linnaeus, 1766) *'' Liocarcinus corrugatus'' (Pennant, 1777) *'' Nectocarcinus antarcticus'' (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846) *'' Nectocarcinus bennetti'' Takeda & Miyake, 1969 *'' Rhachiosoma granulifera'' (Glaessrier, 1960) † *'' Scylla serrata'' (Forskal, 1775) ;

Menippidae Menippidae is a family of crabs of the order Decapoda The Decapoda or decapods (literally "ten-footed") are an order of crustaceans within the class Malacostraca, including many familiar groups, such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp and ...

*'' Menippe sp.'' Glaessner, 1960 † *''

Pseudocarcinus The Tasmanian giant crab, ''Pseudocarcinus gigas'' (sometimes known as the giant deepwater crab, giant southern crab or queen crab) is a very large species of crab that resides on rocky and muddy bottoms in the oceans off Southern Australia.Levin ...

sp.'' Glaessner, 1960 † ;

Oziidae Oziidae is a family of crabs in the order Decapoda. There are about 7 genera and more than 30 described species in Oziidae. Genera These seven genera belong to the family Oziidae: * '' Baptozius'' Alcock, 1898 * '' Bountiana'' N.g.Davie, 2000 * ...

*''

Ozius truncatus ''Ozius truncatus'', or the black finger crab or reef crab, is a crab of the family Menippidae, endemic to south eastern Australia and the North Island of New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwe ...

'' H. Milne-Edwards, 1834 ; Pilumnidae *'' Pilumnopeus serratifrons'' (Kinahan, 1856) *'' Pilumnus lumpinus'' Bennett, 1964 *'' Pilumnus novaezelandiae'' Filhol, 1886 ;

Belliidae Belliidae is a family of crabs of the order Decapoda. They respond to predators by hyper-extending all of its limbs and remain in this position for varied amounts of time (Hazlett). Species Seven species belong to the family Belliidae : *' ...

*''

Heterozius rotundifrons ''Heterozius rotundifrons'', or big hand crab, is a species of crab of the family Belliidae, endemic to New Zealand. The carapace width is up to . Behavior When threatened, Heterozius rotundifrons has a unique antipredator behavior where it f ...

'' A. Milne-Edwards 1867 ;

Goneplacidae Goneplacidae is a family of crabs of the order Decapoda and the superfamily Goneplacoidea. It includes the following genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as we ...

*'' Carcinoplax victoriensis'' Rathbun, 1923 *'' Goneplax arenicola'' (Glaessner, 1960) † *'' Neommatocarcinus huttoni'' (Filhol, 1886) ;

Galenidae Galenidae is a family of crabs, one of three in the superfamily Pilumnoidea. It contains four genera, three of which are monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon ...

*'' Galene proavita'' Glaessner, 1960 †

Section Thoracotremata

;

Grapsidae The Grapsidae are a family of crabs known variously as marsh crabs, shore crabs, or talon crabs. The family has not been confirmed to form a monophyletic group and some taxa may belong in other families. They are found along the shore among rocks ...

*'' Austrohelice crassa'' (Dana, 1851) *''

Leptograpsus variegatus ''Leptograpsus variegatus'', known as the purple rock crab, is a marine large-eyed crab of the family Grapsidae, found in southern subtropical Indo-Pacific Oceans. It grows to around shell width. It is the only species in the genus ''Leptograps ...

'' (Fabricius, 1793) *'' Miograpsus papaka'' Fleming, 1981 † *'' Planes cyaneus'' Dana, 1852 *''

Planes marinus Plane(s) most often refers to: * Aero- or airplane, a powered, fixed-wing aircraft * Plane (geometry), a flat, 2-dimensional surface Plane or planes may also refer to: Biology * Plane (tree) or ''Platanus'', wetland native plant * ''Planes' ...

'' Rathbun, 1914 ;

Plagusiidae The Plagusiidae are a family of crabs, formerly treated as a subfamily of the family Grapsidae, but have since been considered sufficiently distinct to be a family in their own right. The family Plagusiidae includes the subfamily Plagusiinae, com ...

*''

Plagusia chabrus The red rock crab, ''Guinusia chabrus'', is a marine large-eyed crab of the family Plagusiidae. It is found in the southern Indian and southern Pacific Oceans, including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile. Description A sturdy squa ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *'' Plagusia squamosa'' (Herbst, 1790) ; Varunidae *''

Hemigrapsus crenulatus ''Hemigrapsus crenulatus'', the hairy-handed crab or ', is a marine crab of the family Varunidae, endemic to the New Zealand coast, although a taxon in Chile may be conspecific. It is an intertidal species with semi-terrestrial tendencies. They ar ...

'' (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) *'' Hemigrapsus sexdentatus'' (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) *''

Cyclograpsus insularum ''Cyclograpsus'' is a genus of crabs, containing the following species: *'' Cyclograpsus audouinii'' H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 *'' Cyclograpsus barbatus'' (MacLeay, 1838) *'' Cyclograpsus beccarii'' Nobili, 1899 *'' Cyclograpsus cinereus'' Dana, 18 ...

'' Campbell & Griffin, 1966 *'' Cyclograpsus lavauxi'' H. Milne-Edwards, 1853 ; Pinnotheridae *'' Pinnotheres atrinicola'' Page, 1983 *'' Pinnotheres novaezelandiae'' Filhol, 1886 ; Ocypodidae *'' Macrophthalmus hirtipes'' (Jacquinot ''in'' Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846) *?'' Macrophthalmus major'' (Glaessner, 1960) † ;

*''

'' (Chilton, 1882) *'' Elamena longirostris'' Filhol, 1885 *''

Elamena momona ''Elamena'' is a genus of crab, containing the following species: * ''Elamena abrolhensis'' Gordon, 1940 * '' Elamena castanea'' Naruse, Mendoza & Ng, 2008 * '' Elamena cimex'' Kemp, 1915 * '' Elamena cristatipes'' Gravely, 1927 * '' Elamena ...

'' Melrose, 1975 *''

Elamena producta ''Elamena'' is a genus of crab, containing the following species: * ''Elamena abrolhensis'' Gordon, 1940 * '' Elamena castanea'' Naruse, Mendoza & Ng, 2008 * '' Elamena cimex'' Kemp, 1915 * '' Elamena cristatipes'' Gravely, 1927 * '' Elamena ...

'' Kirk, 1878 *'' Halicarcinus cookii'' (Filhol, 1885) *'' Halicarcinus innominatus'' Richardson, 1949 *'' Halicarcinus ovatus'' Stimpson, 1858 *'' Halicarcinus planatus'' (Fabricius, 1775) *'' Halicarcinus tongi'' Melrose, 1975 *'' Halicarcinus varius'' (Dana, 1851) *'' Halicarcinus whitei'' (Miers, 1876) *'' Halimena aotearoa'' Melrose, 1975 *'' Hymenosoma depressum'' Jacquinot, 1853 *'' Neohymenicus pubescens'' (Dana, 1851)

Anomura

Petrolisthes elongatus (New Zealand half crab)

;

Lithodidae King crabs are a taxon of decapod crustaceans chiefly found in cold seas. Because of their large size and the taste of their meat, many species are widely caught and sold as food, the most common being the red king crab (''Paralithodes camtscha ...

*''

Lithodes aotearoa ''Lithodes aoteoroa'' is a species of king crab in the family, Lithodidae, and was first described in 2010 by Shane T. Ahyong. References External links''Lithodes aotearoa'' occurrence datafrom GBIF The Global Biodiversity Information F ...

'' Ahyong, 2010 *''

Lithodes jessica ''Lithodes'' is a genus of king crabs. Today there are about 30 recognized species, but others formerly included in this genus have been moved to '' Neolithodes'' and '' Paralomis''. They are found in oceans around the world, ranging from shallow ...

'' Ahyong, 2010 *'' Lithodes macquaria'' Ahyong, 2010 *''

Lithodes robertsoni ''Lithodes'' is a genus of king crabs. Today there are about 30 recognized species, but others formerly included in this genus have been moved to ''Neolithodes'' and '' Paralomis''. They are found in oceans around the world, ranging from shallow ...

'' Ahyong, 2010 *'' Neolithodes brodiei'' Dawson & Yaldwyn, 1970 *'' Neolithodes bronwynae'' Ahyong, 2010 *''

Paralomis dawsoni ''Paralomis dawsoni'' is a species of king crab which lives in New Caledonia, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands at depths of . It is the largest species of ''Paralomis'' in New Zealand. Etymology The species name "''dawsoni''" is dedicated ...

'' Macpherson, 2001 *''

Paralomis debodeorum ''Paralomis debodeorum'' is an extinct species of king crab which lived in New Zealand during the Middle–Late Miocene. It was discovered in the Greta Siltstone on Motunau Beach, North Canterbury, near the mouth In animal anatomy, the mout ...

'' Feldman, 1998 † *''

Paralomis echidna ''Paralomis'' is a genus of king crabs. It includes the following species: *''Paralomis aculeata'' Henderson, 1888 *'' Paralomis africana'' Macpherson, 1982 *'' Paralomis alcockiana'' Hall & Thatje, 2009 *'' Paralomis anamerae'' Macpherson, 1988 ...

'' Ahyong, 2010 *''

Paralomis hirtella ''Paralomis'' is a genus of king crabs. It includes the following species: *''Paralomis aculeata'' Henderson, 1888 *''Paralomis africana'' Macpherson, 1982 *'' Paralomis alcockiana'' Hall & Thatje, 2009 *'' Paralomis anamerae'' Macpherson, 1988 ...

'' Saint Laurent & Macpherson, 1997 *'' Paralomis poorei'' Ahyong, 2010 *'' Paralomis staplesi'' Ahyong, 2010 *''

Paralomis webberi ''Paralomis'' is a genus of king crabs. It includes the following species: *''Paralomis aculeata'' Henderson, 1888 *''Paralomis africana'' Macpherson, 1982 *'' Paralomis alcockiana'' Hall & Thatje, 2009 *'' Paralomis anamerae'' Macpherson, 1988 ...

'' Ahyong, 2010 *''

Paralomis zealandica ''Paralomis zealandica'', also known as the prickly king crab, is a species of king crab which lives at a depth of in New Zealand. It has spiky carapace. The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1971 by Dawson & Yaldwyn ...

'' Dawson & Yaldwyn, 1971 ;

Paguridae The Paguridae are a family of hermit crabs of the order Decapoda. This family contains 542 species in over 70 genera:. The king crabs, Lithodoidea, are now widely undestood to be derived from deep within the Paguridae, with some authors placing t ...

*''

Porcellanopagurus edwardsi ''Porcellanopagurus edwardsi'' is a species of hermit crab that lives in the waters around New Zealand and its subantarctic islands. Distribution ''Porcellanopagurus edwardsi'' is found around the Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands, Snares Isla ...

'' Filhol, 1885 ;

Porcellanidae Porcelain crabs are decapod crustaceans in the widespread family Porcellanidae, which superficially resemble true crabs. They have flattened bodies as an adaptation for living in rock crevices. They are delicate, readily losing limbs when attac ...

*'' Petrolisthes elongatus'' (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) *''

Petrolisthes novaezelandiae ''Petrolisthes novaezelandiae'', known as the red half crab or red false crab, is a species of porcelain crab native to New Zealand. Description The carapace is flattened and covered in short fine hairs, length up to 12mm, width up to 12.5mm. M ...

'' Flihol, 1886 *'' Petrocheles spinosus'' Miers, 1876

References

{{Reflist Crustaceans of New Zealand List, New Zealand New Zealand

Brachyura

Section Dromiacea

Section Raninoida

Section Cyclodorippoida

Section Heterotremata

Section Thoracotremata

Anomura

See also

References