Japanese mitten crab

Japanese mitten crab
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Varunidae
Genus: Eriocheir
Species:
E. japonica
Binomial name
Eriocheir japonica
De Haan, 1835
Synonyms
  • Eriocheir japonicus (De Haan, 1835)
  • Eriochirus japonicus (De Haan, 1835)
  • Grapsus (Eriocheir) japonicus De Haan, 1835
  • Eriocheir formosa Nakagawa, 1915
  • Eriocheir rectus Stimpson, 1858

The Japanese mitten crab (Eriocheir japonica), is a species of crab native to Korea and Japan. It is catadromous, being usually found in freshwater and brackish environments, but moving downstream into coastal marine environments to breed.

It is commonly eaten and economically important in its native range.