Liocarcinus holsatus

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Liocarcinus holsatus	Common name	Flying crab
MCS Code	S1581	Recent Synonyms	Macropius holsatus
Phylum	Crustacea	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Eumalacostraca
Subclass	Eucarida	Order	Decapoda
Suborder	Pleocyemata	Family	Portunidae
Genus	Liocarcinus	Species	holsatus
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Hayward et al., 1996, Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
General Biology
Growth form	Articulate	Feeding method	Predator, Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Swimmer, Crawler, Burrower	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Infaunal
Typical food types	Carrion, invertebrates such as polychaetes, small bivalves, echinoderms, small crustaceans and also juvenile fish	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not Researched
Adult dispersal potential	>10km	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Ingle, 1980, Crothers & Crothers, 1988, Groenewold & Fronds, 2000, Choy, 1986, Venema & Creutzberg, 1973, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Norway to the Shetlands and south to Spain and the Canary Isles.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	6 - 350 m
Migratory	Seasonal (environment)
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Large to very large boulders, Gravel / shingle, Mixed	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Sealoch, Ria / Voe, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore, Bathybenthic (Bathyal)	Wave exposure	Field unresearched
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Ingle, 1980, Venema & Creutzberg, 1973, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	Not researched	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1 year
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type	Internal
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period Not researched Duration of larval stage
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Mente, 2008, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Ingle, 1980, Crothers & Crothers, 1988, Choy, 1991, Choy, 1988, Julie Bremner, unpub data