Discoveries

Portunus spiniferus

New record

A new record for the Kimberley and possibly for Western Australia!

Portunus spiniferus Stephenson & Rees, 1967: Registration number: WAM C44167.

Location: Adele I. Preserved, studio image.

© Western Australian Museum.

Portunus spiniferus Stephenson & Rees, 1967 is a swimming crab found on sandy sediments in shallow tropical waters. Like other swimming crabs this species is probably an active predator at night, spending the day buried in the sand to avoid becoming prey themselves. The species was first discovered in the Philippines and subsequently recorded from New Caledonia. In Australia, it has only been mentioned once in the scientific records and that from Lizard Island, Queensland by A.R. Jones of the Australian Museum during a 1984 survey. The species has recently been discovered off Adele Island by the WA Museum’s Crustacean Technical Officer, Lee Betterridge during the last survey undertaken on October, 2009. The specimen has just been identified by Crustacean Curator, Andrew Hosie.

Portunus spiniferus Stephenson & Rees, 1967: Registration number: WAM C44167.

Location: Adele I. Live on-deck image (size: 4 cm across carapace spines).

7copy; Western Australian Museum.

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