Species profile
Samoan Crab
Scylla serrata
At a glance
Samoan Crab (Scylla serrata) is an invertebrate with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 45 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Hawaii.
Notable details
- Also called the Giant Mud Crab, it can weigh up to 3 kg (6.6 lbs) with a carapace spanning 22 cm.
- Their powerful claws can crack through thick mollusk shells with ease.
- They inhabit mangrove estuaries and tidal mudflats across the Indo-Pacific.
- Highly prized for their sweet, dense meat — a delicacy across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
- They are primarily nocturnal hunters, foraging at night for mollusks, crabs, and carrion.
Where Samoan Crab are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Samoan Crab
Background
Scylla serrata (often called mud crab or mangrove crab, although both terms are highly ambiguous, as well as black crab) is an economically important species of crab found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa, Australia and Asia. In their most common form, the shell colour varies from a deep, mottled green to very dark brown.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Samoan Crab article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other invertebrates on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.