Varuna litterata (Fabricius, 1798) ‒ River Swimming Crab

Species Account

A medium-sized, wide-ranging Indo-West Pacific species commonly found in estuaries and coastal fresh waters. Euryhaline, breeds in estuaries, megalopae undergo mass upstream migrations into fresh water. Commonly found under rocks, timber and leaf litter in shallow water. Carapace squarish, flattened; legs setose, paddle-like; chelipeds strongly developed in fully grown adults. Mottled brown to almost black. Width to 55 mm. An active swimmer. — John W. Short, 2026

Image

Young specimen collected from a small coastal creek near Ella Bay, northeast Queensland, Australia, John W. Short, June 1997. Photographed by John W. Short.