Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesCarcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)
FamilyPORTUNIDAE (swimming-crabs)
SuperfamilyPORTUNOIDEA (a superfamily of crustaceans)
Subsection Heterotremata (a subsection (zoo.) of crustaceans)
Section Eubrachyura (a section (zoo.) of crustaceans)
InfraorderBrachyura (crabs)
SuborderPLEOCYEMATA (a suborder of crustaceans)
OrderDECAPODA (crabs, shrimps, lobsters etc.)
SuperorderEUCARIDA (crab, shrimps, lobsters etc.)
SubclassEUMALACOSTRACA (a subclass of crustaceans)
ClassMALACOSTRACA (crabs, lobsters, shrimps, prawns, woodlice etc.)
SubphylumCRUSTACEA (crustaceans)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab) :
1: Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)
19 Mar 2011 OSGR: SY67 50° 40’ N, 2° 30’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
female, in berry, under rock, on lower shore
Image 1: Female - in berry - dorsal viewImage 2: Female - in berry - dorso-lateral viewImage 3: Female - in berry - dorso-lateral view (2)Image 4: Female - in berry - ventral viewImage 5: Female - in berry - ventral view (2)Image 6: Female - in berry - eggs - close-up - enlarged
2: Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)
17 Mar 2011 OSGR: SY77 50° 30’ N, 2° 20’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
female, in berry, huddled down in hollow in tidal pool
Image 1: Egg mass - close-upImage 2: Female - in berry - ventral viewImage 3: Female - in berry - ventral view - close-upImage 4: Female - in berry - ventral view - close-up (2)
3: Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)
1 Jul 2008 OSGR: TA08 54° 20’ N, 0° 20’ W Vice County: North-east Yorks (VC 62) England
Female, under large pebble in rock pool
Image 1: Female - in rockpoolImage 2: Female - in rockpool (2)Image 3: Female - on dry land - antero-dorsal viewImage 4: Female - on dry land - dorsal viewImage 5: Female - on dry land - dorsal view (2)Image 6: Female - on dry land - dorsal view (3)Image 7: Female - on dry land - ventral viewImage 8: Female - on dry land - ventral view (2)Image 9: Female - on dry land - ventral view (3)Image 10: Female - on dry land - ventral view (4)
4: Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)
25 Apr 2008 OSGR: SZ08 50° 40’ N, 1° 60’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
dead carapace washed up on beach after storm
Image 1: Carapace - close-up - pale backgroundImage 2: Carapace - marginal teeth - close-up - enlargedImage 3: Carapace - surface texture - close-up - enlarged
5: Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)
30 Jun 1968 OSGR: TQ30 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
soft specimen - just shed its shell
Image 1: Anterior view showing chelae and mouthpartsImage 2: Dorsal view

Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 4 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Carcinus maenas (Shore Crab, Green Shore Crab)

The Shore Crab is very variable in colour, usually green or red, but small individuals often have symmetrical white, black or red markings. It is very common on the shore and down to about 5m.

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