Preferred Scientific Name
- Charybdis japonica A. Milne-Edwards, 1861
Preferred Common Name
- lady crab
Local Common Names
- Japan: ishigani; rock crab
Datasheet
Charybdis japonica (lady crab)
Index
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Description
- Distribution Table
- History of Introduction and Spread
- Introductions
- Risk of Introduction
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Water Tolerances
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Impact Summary
- Economic Impact
- Environmental Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- Gaps in Knowledge/Research Needs
- References
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Generate reportSummary of Invasiveness
Top of pageC. japonica is a large portunid crab native to coastal marine environments of the western Pacific. Introduced to New Zealand, it was first discovered in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour in 2000 (Webber, 2001). By April 2002 the invader had spread widely throughout the harbour (Gust and Inglis, 2006). It appears to have become established there and was still found to be widespread in the harbour in April 2008 (Willis and Morrisey, 2008). C. japonica may impact native estuarine faunal assemblages as an opportunistic predator of benthic invertebrates, particularly small, native shellfish. In its native range it is a host or carrier of the white spot syndrome virus, a serious fisheries threat to a broad spectrum of crustaceans (Lightner, 1996; Maeda et al., 1998). Listed as one of ten most likely invaders into Australian marine waters C. japonica is categorized as a 'medium high priority' species based on its invasion potential/impact (Hayes et al., 2005).
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Metazoa
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Crustacea
- Class: Malacostraca
- Subclass: Eumalacostraca
- Order: Decapoda
- Family: Portunidae
- Genus: Charybdis
- Species: Charybdis japonica
Description
Top of pageC. japonica is a large (up to 110 mm carapace width) portunid (swimming) crab, with a typical portunid body-form. The carapace and limbs are pilose (hairy), though the extent of cover varies considerably within populations. In some New Zealand individuals it is confined to recesses in the carapace, between anterolateral spines on the carapace, and in recesses on the chelae. Maximum size (carapace width) in Korean population is 109 mm (males) and 96 mm (females). Corresponding values for New Zealand population are 110 mm and 90 mm (Miller et al., 2006). Detailed descriptions of external morphology are given by Wee and Ng (1995) and Smith et al., (2003). The colour of the New Zealand population is very variable, ranging from pale green and off-white, thorough olive green to deep chestnut with purplish markings on the carapace and upper surfaces of the appendages (Smith et al., 2003). Most specimens from New Zealand also have yellow-orange markings, particularly on the chelae. There seem to be few published descriptions of colour in individuals from its native range, but Wee and Ng (1995) describe the colour of crabs from Japan as “dorsal surface mottled cream and purple”.
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 17 Dec 2021| Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia |
|||||||
| China | Present, Widespread | Native | Wide native distribution in eastern Asia. Native range from northern China to malaysia, and includes coastal areas of Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and China. | ||||
| -Liaoning | Present | Native | |||||
| Japan | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
| -Honshu | Present | Native | |||||
| -Kyushu | Present | Native | |||||
| -Ryukyu Islands | Present | Native | |||||
| Malaysia | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
| South Korea | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
| Taiwan | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
| Thailand | Present | Native | |||||
Europe |
|||||||
| Italy | Present | Introduced | 2006 | ||||
North America |
|||||||
| United States | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
| -Hawaii | Present | Native | |||||
Oceania |
|||||||
| Australia | Present | Introduced | 1999 | ||||
| -South Australia | Absent, Formerly present | 2000 | In December 2000, a single mature male specimen of Charybdis japonica was found in the port river of Adelaide, South Australia. Despite further intensive searches, no additional specimens were collected from this location. | ||||
| New Zealand | Present, Localized | 2008 | Introduced | 2000 | Invasive | Widespread in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour. Occasional specimens detected in other northeastern New Zealand estuaries. | |
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageFirst recorded in September 2000 in the Rangitoto Channel near the entrance to Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand and the following (austral) summer inside the harbour. It has since been recorded during all trapping programmes in the harbour (in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008). It has also been found on several occasions in two other, nearby harbours approximately 36 km to the north (Mahurangi Harbour) and approximately 10 km southeast (Tamaki Estuary) of Waitemata Harbour (Gust and Inglis, 2006; M Morrison, NIWA, New Zealand, personal communication, 2008). In September 2003 a single specimen (a mature female) was collected in Whangarei Harbour, on the northeast coast of the North Island, but none has been captured since in this location despite regular trapping programmes (in 2004, 2006 and 2008).
Introductions
Top of page| Introduced to | Introduced from | Year | Reason | Introduced by | Established in wild through | References | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural reproduction | Continuous restocking | |||||||
| New Zealand | 2000 | Hitchhiker (pathway cause) | Yes | Gust and Inglis (2006); Webber (2001); Willis and Morrisey (2008) | To Waitematata Harbour (Auckland) probably from east Asia, either via ballast water or ships’ hulls, consistently present since 2000 | |||
| South Australia | 2000 | Hitchhiker (pathway cause) | Poore (2004) | To Port Rover, Adelaide probably from East Asia via ballast water or ships' hulls. A single mature male. Not found in subsequent searches | ||||
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageGiven the volume of shipping between ports in the species’ native range and those in Australia and New Zealand, further introductions are not unlikely. Spread within its introduced range is very likely by natural dispersion of adults and larvae (gravid females have been caught in New Zealand) or by shipping-related vectors (ballast water or hull fouling (Smith et al., 2003)). Since the species is eaten by humans in its native range, and is the target of a commercial fishery, deliberate introduction or translocation is possible (Smith et al., 2003; Vazquez Archdale and Kuwahara, 2005).
Habitat
Top of pageIn its native range it occurs in intertidal and subtidal habitats to depths of about 15 m, including sandy and muddy or stony bottoms with seaweed (Smith et al., 2003; Vazquez Archdale and Kuwahara, 2005). In Korea, juveniles (less than 25 mm carapace width) occur in seagrass (Zostera marina) beds (Hu and An, 1998, cited in Smith et al., 2003). In the Waitemata Harbour, New Zealand, it occurs in a range of substrata from fine, silty muds to coarse, shelly sands, sandstone reefs, and beds of the introduced bivalve Musculista senhousia, and in water depths from 1-13 m (Gust and Inglis, 2006).
Habitat List
Top of page| Category | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine | ||||
| Marine | Inshore marine | Principal habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
| Marine | Inshore marine | Principal habitat | Natural | |
| Marine | Benthic zone | Principal habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
| Marine | Benthic zone | Principal habitat | Natural |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageGenetics
See Smith et al. (2003) for a study on the DNA and morphological identification of C. japonica in New Zealand waters.
Reproductive Biology
In Japan, C. japonica releases larvae in late summer (Oishi and Saigusa, 1997). Wang et al. (1996), cited in Smith et al. (2003), described a bimodal reproductive season in China, with spawning in spring and autumn when sea temperatures are between 20 and 28°C. Females may produce multiple broods each year. Some species of Charybdis are able to store sperm and produce several broods from a single mating (Dineen et al., 2001).
Generalist predator, predominantly on benthic bivalves, crustaceans, fish and cephalopods (Jiang et al., 1998 in Smith et al., 2003).
In its native range, C. japonica occurs in areas where sea temperatures range from -1 to 34°C (Qiyuan and Dongdong, 2004; Gust and Inglis, 2006). If breeding only occurs at water temperatures above 20°C, as cited above, its breeding period in the Waitemata Harbour, New Zealand may be restricted because maximum mean monthly temperature only reaches 21°C (Gust and Inglis, 2006).
Water Tolerances
Top of page| Parameter | Minimum Value | Maximum Value | Typical Value | Status | Life Stage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth (m b.s.l.) | 1 | 15 | Harmful | Values shown for shallow subtidal in New Zealand, also intertidal in Japan and other parts of native range | ||
| Water temperature (ºC temperature) | -1 | 34 | Optimum | Minimum temperature -1 for location in northern China (Qiyuan and Dongdong, 2004) |
Natural enemies
Top of page| Natural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heterosaccus papillosus | Parasite | Aquatic|Adult |
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of pageIn New Zealand the similarly-sized native portunid Ovalipes catharus is preyed on by various species of fish (McLay, 1988) and it is likely that the same species would also consume C. japonica, though the latter is reputed to be more aggressive than the native species (Webber, 2001).
In Korea, C. japonica is host to the parasitic rhizocephalan barnacle Heterosaccus papillosus but reported infection rates were low (3.8% of females and 1% of males) (Kim, 2001) and it is not known what effect they may have on the population dynamics of their host.
This parasite was not recorded during a study of parasites of C. japonica in New Zealand, even though the sample size had a high estimated probability (79%) of detecting at least one individual infected with a rhizocephalan if it was present in the New Zealand population (Miller et al., 2006). Very few other parasites were found in the sample of C. japonica or in sympatric and allopatric populations of the native Ovalipes catharus. An unidentified juvenile ascaridoid nematode was found in the hindgut of 5-9% of the C. japonica examined. Melanised lesions were noted in the muscle tissue of 46.6% of the C. japonica examined, some of which were spherical bodies resembling melanised trematode metacercariae. Low levels of infection with parasites are consistent with arrival of the species in New Zealand as larvae via ships’ ballast water.
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of page
Natural Dispersal (Non-Biotic)
Likely to include dispersal of larvae (Oishi and Saigusa, 1997) and swimming adults by water currents.
Natural Dispersal (Biotic)
Likely to include swimming and walking by juveniles and adults.
Accidental Introduction
Vectors for introduction to New Zealand and Australia unknown but possibly as larvae in ships’ ballast water and/or juveniles and adults among fouling assemblages on ships’ hulls, especially recesses such as sea chests. A single individual of the related Charybdis helleri was collected from the sea chest of a fishing vessel taken out of the water for maintenance in Nelson, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand in 2000 (Dodgshun and Coutts, 2003).
Likely to include dispersal of larvae (Oishi and Saigusa, 1997) and swimming adults by water currents.
Likely to include swimming and walking by juveniles and adults.
Vectors for introduction to New Zealand and Australia unknown but possibly as larvae in ships’ ballast water and/or juveniles and adults among fouling assemblages on ships’ hulls, especially recesses such as sea chests. A single individual of the related Charybdis helleri was collected from the sea chest of a fishing vessel taken out of the water for maintenance in Nelson, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand in 2000 (Dodgshun and Coutts, 2003).
Impact Summary
Top of page| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Cultural/amenity | Negative |
| Economic/livelihood | Positive and negative |
| Environment (generally) | Negative |
Economic Impact
Top of pagePossible adverse effects on populations of commercially important, estuarine bivalves in introduced range (Gust and Inglis, 2006). Potential distribution of C. japonica in New Zealand may not overlap substantially with that of the only commercially important native portunid crab (Ovalipes catharus), reducing the likelihood of direct competition between them (Gust and Inglis, 2006). C. japonica is also a known host of the white-spot syndrome virus, a serious fisheries threat to a broad range of crustaceans (Lightner, 1996; Maeda et al., 1998), though the New Zealand population has not so far been found to carry it.
Environmental Impact
Top of pageSee comments in section on Economic Impact for potential effects of predation on native bivalve populations on disease on native crustaceans.
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page
Invasiveness
- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Has a broad native range
- Abundant in its native range
- Is a habitat generalist
- Capable of securing and ingesting a wide range of food
- Highly mobile locally
- Long lived
- Has high reproductive potential
- Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
- Modification of natural benthic communities
- Negatively impacts cultural/traditional practices
- Negatively impacts livelihoods
- Negatively impacts aquaculture/fisheries
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Threat to/ loss of native species
- Competition (unspecified)
- Pest and disease transmission
- Interaction with other invasive species
- Predation
- Highly likely to be transported internationally accidentally
- Difficult/costly to control
Uses
Top of page
Economic Value
Target of commercial fishery for human consumption throughout its native range (Smith et al., 2003; Vazquez Archdale and Kuwahara, 2005).
Target of commercial fishery for human consumption throughout its native range (Smith et al., 2003; Vazquez Archdale and Kuwahara, 2005).
Uses List
Top of pageHuman food and beverage
- Meat/fat/offal/blood/bone (whole, cut, fresh, frozen, canned, cured, processed or smoked)
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pageVery similar to other portunids in general and to other members of the same genus in particular (Webber, 2001; Smith et al., 2003).
Gaps in Knowledge/Research Needs
Top of pageLack of basic information on biology and ecology, including environmental tolerances and requirements, reproductive biology, natural and human-related dispersal, and ecological interactions (predation and competition) in native and introduced range.
References
Top of pageDodgshun T; Coutts A, 2003. Opening the lid on sea chests. Seafood New Zealand, 11(2):35.
Edmondson CH, 1954. Hawaiian Portunidae. Occasional Papers of the BP Bishop Museum, 21:217-274.
McLay CL, 1998. Brachyura and crab-like Anomura of New Zealand. Leigh Laboratory Bulletin, No. 22.
Distribution References
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Edmondson C H, 1954. Hawaiian Portunidae. Occasional Papers of the BP Bishop Museum. 217-274.
Wee D P C, Ng P K L, 1995. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 127.
Contributors
Top of page28/07/08 Original text by:
N Gust, Department of Primary Industries and Water, Biodiversity and Conservation Branch, Wildlife & Marine Conservtion Section, PO Box 44, Hobart, 7001, Tasmania, New Zealand
Don Morrisey, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd, PO Box 893, Nelson, New Zealand
Distribution Maps
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