Charybdis japonica

Charybdis japonica, the Asian paddle crab, is a species of swimming crab in the family Portunidae.^[1][2] Charybdis japonica has a hexagonal, concave carapace around 12 centimetres (4.7 in) wide, the whole animal being pale green to olive green in colour.^[2]

Charybdis japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Brachyura
Family:	Portunidae
Genus:	Charybdis
Species:	C. japonica
Binomial name
Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards, 1861)
Synonyms[1]
Goniosoma japonica A. Milne-Edwards, 1861 Charybdis sowerbyi Rathbun, 1931 Charybdis peitchihiliensis Shen, 1932

It occurs naturally in the waters around Japan, Korea and Malaysia, but has become an invasive species in New Zealand.^[2] It has also been recorded in the Adriatic Sea where it is rare.^[1]

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  Dorsal view
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  Ventral view
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  Served in miso soup