Necora puber (Linnaeus, 1767)
(Velvet Swimming Crab)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesNecora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)
FamilyPOLYBIIDAE (a family of crustaceans)
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 Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab) :
1: Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)
19 Mar 2011 OSGR: SY67 50° 40’ N, 2° 30’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
under rock, on lower shore
Image 1: Carapace - front margin - close-up - white backgroundImage 2: Carapace - front margin - close-up - white background (2)Image 3: Defensive stance - white backgroundImage 4: Defensive stance - white background (2)Image 5: Defensive stance - white background (3)Image 6: Defensive stance - white background (4)Image 7: Dorsal view - white backgroundImage 8: Dorsal view - white background (2)Image 9: Dorsal view - white background (3)Image 10: In rock pool - white backgroundImage 11: In rock pool - white background (2)Image 12: On weed - white backgroundImage 13: On weed - white background (2)Image 14: On weed - white background (3)Image 15: On weed - white background (4)Image 16: Swimming leg - close-up - white backgroundImage 17: Swimming leg - close-up - white background (2)
2: Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)
4 Jul 2008 OSGR: TA08 54° 20’ N, 0° 20’ W Vice County: North-east Yorks (VC 62) England
collected for the pot
Image 1: Crabs collected for supper
3: Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)
4 Jul 2008 OSGR: TA08 54° 20’ N, 0° 20’ W Vice County: North-east Yorks (VC 62) England
Shed exoskeleton of small female crab.
Image 1: Apron - close-up - white backgroundImage 2: Carapace - dorsal view - close-up - white backgroundImage 3: Carapace parts three weeks laterImage 4: Carapace - ventral view - close-up - white backgroundImage 5: Chela (claw) - outside (posterior) view - close-up - white backgroundImage 6: Chelae (claws) - close-up - white backgroundImage 7: Swimming (rear) leg - close-up - white backgroundImage 8: Carapace - front edge between eyes - dorsal view - close-up - - enlarged - white backgroundImage 9: Chela (claw) - outside (posterior) view - close-up - enlarged - white background
4: Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)
1 Jul 2008 OSGR: TA08 54° 20’ N, 0° 20’ W Vice County: North-east Yorks (VC 62) England
Male, under large pebble in rock pool
Image 1: In rockpool - dorsal viewImage 2: In rockpool - dorsal view (2)Image 3: In rockpool - dorsal view (3)Image 4: On dry land - dorsal viewImage 5: On dry land - dorsal view (2)Image 6: On dry land - dorsal view (3)Image 7: On dry land - ventral viewImage 8: On dry land - ventral view (2)Image 9: On dry land - ventral view (3)Image 10: Threat posture - in rockpoolImage 11: Threat posture - in rockpool (2)Image 12: Threat posture - in rockpool (3)
5: Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)
23 Apr 2008 OSGR: SZ07 50° 40’ N, 1° 60’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
soft old shell fragments washed up on the beach after storms
Image 1: CarapaceImage 2: Carapace - anterior margin - close-upImage 3: Left chela - close-up

Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 2 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Necora puber (Velvet Swimming Crab)

A beautiful large swimming crab with blue lines on all the leg sections and red eyes. It may be found on the shore.

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