Chiromantes haematocheir
Chiromantes haematocheir, commonly known as the red-clawed crab, is a mudflat crab in the Sesarmidae family. It is endemic to East Asia and is different from other species in the Chiromantes genus, which may even consist of only this one species.
The crab has a square, smooth carapace with irregular stripes along its sides. Males have large, smooth claws with curved tips.
Color changes as it grows: juveniles are white or yellow, while adults are usually crimson red.
Some populations in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, are found far inland—more than 600 meters above sea level and over 80 kilometers from the ocean. This unusual distribution suggests these crabs may live in freshwater habitats, such as forest streams, or spend much of their life away from seawater.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:21 (CET).