Species information
Scientific name: Cardisoma carnifex
Japanese name: ミナミオカガニ
Chinese name: 凶狠圓軸蟹
English name: Brown land crab
Origin: Coastal areas of Southeast Asia adjacent to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In Japan, found on islands south of Yoronjima.
Ecology and description
Brown land crab, one of the land crabs visible in the Ryukyu Islands, has seen a rapid decline in numbers in recent years due to coastal environmental destruction and roads near the coast blocking their migration routes to the sea for larval release. Although Brown land crab exists on Okinawajima, it is relatively rare. Brown land crab and Pacific land crab (Tuerkayana hirtipes) appear similar, but can be distinguished by the color of their eyes: Brown land crab has gray compound eyes, while Pacific land crab has black ones.
References:
Special Report on Brown land crab by the Taiwan Ecological Society, Liu Hongchang, at Taijiang National Park, Taiwan
Introduction to Brown land crab (in Japanese)
Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates
We rarely see Brown land crab in Kunigami, Okinawajima.
