• Pseudograpsinae Kossmann, R. 1877. Malacostraca (1. Theil: Brachyura). Chapter Erste Halfte, III. 1-66 pls 1-3 in Kossmann, R. (ed.). Zoologische Ergebnisse einer im Auftrage der Königlichen Academie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin ausgeführten Reise in die Küstengebiete des Rothen Meeres. Leipzig : W. Engelmann. [57].

History of changes

• Brachynotus De Haan, W. 1833. Crustacea. i-xvii, i-xxxi, ix-xvi, 1-243 pls A-J, in Von Siebold, P.F. (ed.). Fauna Japonica sive Descriptio Animalium, quae in Itinere per Japoniam, Jussu et Auspiciis Superiorum, qui Summum in India Batava Imperium Tenent, Suscepto, Annis 1823–1830 Collegit, Notis, Observationibus et Adumbrationibus Illustravit. Leiden : Lugduni-Batavorum. [published from 1833–1850] [5, 7] [subgenus established without included nominal species; gender masculine].

  Type species:

   Goneplax sexdentatus Risso, 1827 by subsequent monotypy, see De Haan, W. 1835. Crustacea. 1-243 pls A-J, L-Q, 1-55, circ. tab. 2 in Von Siebold, P.F. (ed.). Fauna Japonica sive Descriptio Animalium, quae in Itinere per Japoniam, Jussu et Auspiciis Superiorum, qui Summum in India Batava Imperium Tenent, Suscepto, Annis 1823–1830 Collegit, Notis, Observationibus et Adumbrationibus Illustravit. Leiden : Lugundi-Batavorum. [published from 1833–1850] [34].
• Shurebus Verany, G.B. 1846. Catalogo degli animali invertebrati marini del Golfo di Genova e Nizza. Genova. 30 pp. [4 unnumbered] pls [7] [gender masculine].

  Type species:

   Shurebus genuensis Verany, 1846 by monotypy (= Cleistostoma gemmellari Rizza).
• Heterograpsus Lucas, H. 1846. Crustacés, Arachnides, Myriopodes et Hexapodes: Exploration scientifique de l'Algérie pendant les années 1840, 1841, 1842. Sciences physiques, Zoologie I. Histoire Naturelle des Animaux Articulés. 403 pp. 8 pls [18].

  Type species:

   Heterograpsus sexdentatus Lucas, 1846 by monotypy (= subjective junior synonym and homonym of Goneplax sexdentatus Risso, 1827).

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Manning, R.B. & Holthuis, L.B. 1981. West African Brachyuran Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 306: i-xii, 1-379 figs 1-88, 2 appendices [247]

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans.

IMCRA

Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

History of changes

• Heterograpsus spinosus Milne Edwards, H. 1853. Mémoires sur la famille des Ocypodiens, suite. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Paris Zoology 3 20: 163-228 pls 6-11 [194].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MNHP, Vanikoro, Santa Cruz, Pacific Ocean.

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

South-western Pacific.

IMCRA

Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Ecological Descriptors

Intertidal, reef, rocky shore.

Extra Ecological Information

Estuaries and sheltered shores, under small stones or nodules of mud.

General References

Griffin, D.J.G. 1969. Breeding and moulting cycles of two Tasmanian Grapsid crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura). Crustaceana 16(2): 88-94

Griffin, D.J.G. 1969. Notes on the taxonomy and zoogeography of the Tasmanian Grapsid and Ocypodid crabs (Crustacea, Brachyura). Records of the Australian Museum 27: 323-347 [329]

History of changes

• Hemigrapsus Dana, J.D. 1851. On the classification of the Crustacea Grapsoidea. American Journal of Science and Arts 12: 283-290 [288].

  Type species:

   Hemigrapsus crassimanus Dana, 1851 by subsequent designation.

Distribution

States

Victoria

IMCRA

Bass Strait Shelf Province (35)

History of changes

• Grapsus (Grapsus) sanguineus De Haan, W. 1835. Crustacea. 1-243 pls A-J, L-Q, 1-55, circ. tab. 2 in Von Siebold, P.F. (ed.). Fauna Japonica sive Descriptio Animalium, quae in Itinere per Japoniam, Jussu et Auspiciis Superiorum, qui Summum in India Batava Imperium Tenent, Suscepto, Annis 1823–1830 Collegit, Notis, Observationibus et Adumbrationibus Illustravit. Leiden : Lugundi-Batavorum. [58].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Japan.
• Heterograpsus maculatus Milne Edwards, H. 1853. Mémoires sur la famille des Ocypodiens, suite. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Paris Zoology 3 20: 163-228 pls 6-11 [193] [subjective synonym].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, MNHNP (possibly lost), Polynesia.

Generic Combinations

• Hemigrapsus sanguineus (De Haan, 1835).

Introduction

The Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, is native to coastal and estuarine habitat along the east coast of Asia. The species was first observed in North America near Delaware Bay (39°N, 75°W) in 1988, and a variety of evidence suggests initial introduction via ballast water early in that decade. The crab spread rapidly after its discovery, and breeding populations currently extend from North Carolina to Maine (35°–45°N). is now the dominant crab in rocky intertidal habitat along much of the northeast coast of the USA and has displaced resident crab species throughout this region. The Asian shore crab also occurs on the Atlantic coast of Europe since 1999. Invasive populations now extend along 1000 km of coastline from France to Lower Saxony in Germany (48°– 53°N). Success of the Asian shore crab in alien habitats has been ascribed to factors such as high fecundity, superior competition for space and food, release from parasitism, and direct predation on co-occurring crab species. The species was first reported from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia in 2020 and is now common (https://www.marinepests.gov.au/pests/identify/asian-shore-crab).

Distribution

States

Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Native to the northwest Pacific (from Sakhalin, Russia, through China to Hong Kong, Korea and Japan). Introduced to Atlantic North America and Europe. Confined to Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, in Australia

Introduced from Asia.

IMCRA

Bass Strait Shelf Province (35)

General References

Epifano, C.E. 2013. Invasion biology of the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus: a review. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 441: 33-49

History of changes

• Orcovita Ng, P.K.L. & Tomascik, T. 1994. Orcovita saltatrix, a new genus and species of anchialine varunine crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Grapsidae) from Kakaban Island, Indonesia. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 42(4): 937-948.

Distribution

IMCRA

Christmas Island Province (23)

History of changes

• Orcovita hicksi Davie, P.J.F. & Ng, P.K.L. 2012. Two new species of Orcovita (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Varunidae) from anchialine caves on Christmas Island, Eastern Indian Ocean. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60(1): 57-70 [62-65].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM C49450 ♂, Whip Cave, Waterfall Road, Christmas Island [10°25'22.0"S, 105°42'04.4"E].

Distribution

IMCRA

Christmas Island Province (23)

Ecological Descriptors

Anchialine, brackish water.

History of changes

• Orcovita orchardorum Davie, P.J.F. & Ng, P.K.L. 2012. Two new species of Orcovita (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Varunidae) from anchialine caves on Christmas Island, Eastern Indian Ocean. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60(1): 57-70 [58-62].

  Type data:

   Holotype W29114 ♂, Whip Cave, Waerfall Road, Christmas Island [10°25.377'S, 105°42.081'E].

Distribution

IMCRA

Christmas Island Province (23)

Ecological Descriptors

Anchialine, brackish water.

History of changes

• Pseudograpsus Milne Edwards, H. 1837. Histoire Naturelle des Crustacés, comprenant l'anatomie, la physiologie et la classification de ces animaux. Paris : Libraire Encyclopedique de Roret Vol. 2 532 pp., Atlas 32 pp., 42 pls. [81] [gender masculine].

  Type species:

   Grapsus penicilliger Latreille, 1817 by subsequent designation, see Holthuis, L.B. 1977. The Grapsidae, Gecarcinidae and Palicidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) of the Red Sea. Israel Journal of Zoology 26: 141-192.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-west Pacific Oceans.

IMCRA

Timor Province (2), Christmas Island Province (23), Northwest Transition (3), Northwest Province (4), Central Western Transition (5)

History of changes

• Pseudograpsus albus Stimpson, W. 1858. Crustacea Ocypodoidea: Prodromus descriptionis animalium evertebratorum, quae in Expeditione ad Oceanum Pacificum Septentrionalem, a Republica Federata missa, Cadwaladaro Ringgold et Johanne Rodgers Ducibus, observavit et descripsit W. Stimpson. Pars V. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 10: 93-110 [page numbers 39–56 on separate reprint] [104].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, (probably lost), Kikaisima [Kikai-shima], Okinawa, Ryukyu Ils.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-west Pacific Oceans (Madagascar to Japan, New Caledonia and east to Fiji).

IMCRA

Christmas Island Province (23), Northwest Transition (3), Northwest Province (4), Central Western Transition (5)

Ecological Descriptors

Coral reef, intertidal, rocky shore.

Extra Ecological Information

Stony beach, under rocks and stones.

History of changes

• Utica White, A. 1847. Short descriptions of some new species of Crustacea in the collection of the British Museum. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 15: 84-86 [Date published July/1847] [85] [gender feminine].

  Type species:

   Utica gracilipes White, 1847 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-west Pacific Oceans.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

IMCRA

Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

History of changes

• Utica crassimana Haswell, W.A. 1881. On some new Australian Brachyura. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 6(3): 540-551 [549].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) AM P295, Holborn Island, near Port Denison, QLD; AM P11386, Holborn Island, near Port Denison, QLD.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

IMCRA

Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Ecological Descriptors

Estuary, low intertidal, mangrove, mud substrate, shallow subtidal.

History of changes

• Utica setosipes Haswell, W.A. 1881. On some new Australian Brachyura. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 6(3): 540-551 [549].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM P710, Port Denison, QLD.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Estuary, low intertidal, shallow subtidal.

History of changes

• Varuna Milne Edwards, H 1830. [Entry on VARUNE. Varuna]. p. 511, in Audouin, Isid. Bourdon, Ad. Brongniart, Cambassèdes, De Candolle, G. Delafosse, Deshayes, E. Deslonchamps, Drapiez, Dumas, Edwards, H.-M. Edwards, A. Fée, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Isid. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Guérin, Guillemin, A. De Jussieu, Kunth, Latreille, Lesson, C. Prévost, A. Richard, et Bory de Saint-Vincent. Dictionnaire classique d'Histoire naturelle, Vol. 16 (T–Z) J. Tastu, Paris. 748 pp. [in 17 volumes published between 1822 and 1831 (16 vols text, 1 vol. Atlas)] [511] [gender feminine].

  Type species:

   Cancer litteratus Fabricius, 1798 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-west Pacific (east Africa to Japan).

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Cancer litteratus Fabricius, J.C. 1798. Supplementum Entomologiae Systematicae. Hafniae : Proft et Storch ii 573 pp. [342].

  Type data:

   Lectotype UZM 120-1 ♀, `in India orientali' (probably from Tranquebar, SE coast of India).
  Paralectotype(s) UZM 2♀.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Ng, P.K.L. 1988. The Freshwater Crabs of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore : Department of Zoology, National University of Singapore & Shinglee Publishers Pty Ltd pp. i-viii, 1-152. [116].
• Cancer simmonsi Curtiss, A. 1938. A Short Zoology of Tahiti in the Society Islands. New York : Self-published i-xvi, 193 pp. [176].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ng, P.K.L., Eldredge, L.G. & Evenhuis, N.L. 2011. The names of decapod and stomatopod Crustacea from Tahiti, French Polynesia, established by Anthony Curtis in 1938 and 1944. Zootaxa 3099: 43-56 [45 (Table 1), 52-53]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-west Pacific Oceans (East Africa to Japan).

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Estuary, freshwater, mangrove, shallow subtidal.

Extra Ecological Information

Megalopae migrate upstream into freshwater to mature, under rocks, logs, and dead leaves.

General References

Sakai, T. 1976. Crabs of Japan and the Adjacent Seas. Tokyo : Kodansha 3 vols xxix 773 pp. [English vol.]; 1–16, 251 pls [Plates vol.]; 461 pp. [Japanese vol.]. [644] (distribution and notes on biology)

History of changes