Charybdis is a genus of swimming crabs in the family Portunidae; "Charybdis" is Greek for whirlpool. There are many species in the genus Charybdis: In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a taxonomic grouping. ... Genera Portunidae is the family containing the swimming crabs. ... In Greek mythology, Charybdis, or Kharybdis (sucker down, Greek Χάρυβδις), is a sea monster, daughter of Poseidon and Gaia, who swallows huge amounts of water three times a day and then belches it back out again. ... Saltstraumen off Norway. ...

Species

• Charybdis acutifrons
• Charybdis affinis. This crab has a hexagonal, concave carapace with a yellowish-grey colour. This crab is found in the Indian Ocean and in the West Pacific ^[1].
• Charybdis callianassa
• Charybdis cruciata. This species of crab is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from Japan, China and Australia to Southern Africa and the Persian Gulf ^[2]. It is an edible crab and because of its large size, high quality of meat and relatively soft exoskeleton, it has a high commercial value. Attempts are being made to farm this crab using aquaculture ^[3]. In Hong Kong Cantonese it is known as the flowery crab (花蟹) ^[4]. This name probably arises from its red and white colouring when cooked. This species of crab is also known as Charybdis feriata and Charybdis feriatus ^[5] and has also been found in the Mediterranean Sea. The specific epithet cruciata refers to the red cross on the carapace of this species. According to legend the Spanish Jesuit Saint Francis Xavier saw this crab in Indonesia. "A Ceram, écrit François-Xavier, un crabe sur la plage me rapporta entre ses pinces mon crucifix qu'une tempête avait arraché à mon cou. Depuis, en cette région, les crabes ont un crucifix imprimé sur leur carapace" ^[6].
• Charybdis edwardsi
• Charybdis erythrodactyla
• Charybdis granulata
• Charybdis hawaiensis
• Charybdis hellerii. This crab is characterised by a hexagonal, concave carapace with a mottled brownish-grey colour. This crab originates from the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea to New Caledonia. However this crab has now also successively invaded the Western Atlantic (Florida to Brazil) ^[7] and the Mediterranean Sea ^[8].
• Charybdis hoplites
• Charybdis japonica. This crab has a hexagonal, concave carapace with a reddish-brown colour and is found in the waters near Japan ^[9].
• Charybdis longicollis. This invasive swimming crab is an Red Sea crab that invaded the Mediterraneann Sea fifty years ago. ^[10]
• Charybdis natator. This crab is characterised by a brownish upper surface with some white spots among the wafts or bright red granules. On its under surface it is bluish, mottled with white and pale red ^[11]. This crab is not a major target for commercial fishing ^[12].
• Charybdis truncata

The term carapace refers to a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell, in a number of animal groups. ... As the Pacific straddles the ±180° longitude where East becomes West, the Asian side of the ocean (where latitudes are E) is correctly referred to as East Pacific and the opposite side (eastwards) where latitudes are W is the West Pacific. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | Southern Africa ... It has been suggested that Persian Gulf States be merged into this article or section. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Hong Kong Cantonese (香港廣東話, 香港粵語, 港式粵語) is a variant of Standard Cantonese spoken by Hongkongers. ... Satellite image The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean almost completely enclosed by land, on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. ... A specific epithet is a biological epithet of a species. ... The term carapace refers to a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell, in a number of animal groups. ... Not to be confused with St. ... Location of the Red Sea Image:Red Seaimage. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Location of the Red Sea Image:Red Seaimage. ...

Notes