A new species arrives in the Adriatic Sea:here is the crucified crab, it can weigh up to a kilo

The first specimen was caught off the coast of Senigallia

A few months have passed since the discovery of the blue crab in the Adriatic Sea, here is a new species.This is the crucifix crab Charybdis feriata, native to the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.The first specimen, probably introduced by naval transport, was fished off the coast of Senigallia and is now under the lens of researchers from the Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology of the National Research Council of Ancona (Cnr-Irbim) .

What is crucifix crab

The crucifix crab, experts explain, is a large predator:male specimens can weigh up to one kilogram and the species is widely traded in the areas of origin.In the Mediterranean it appeared for the first time in 2004 off the coast of Barcelona.To date there are very few sightings of this species, including a recent discovery in the Gulf of Genoa in 2022 and in Livorno in 2015, always near large ports.«This discovery adds to a long list of new introductions into our seas», says Ernesto Azzurro, researcher at the Cnr-Irbim of Ancona.«At the moment, considering the ecological characteristics of the crucifix crab and its thermal tolerance, we do not believe that there is a risk of an invasion of this species in the Adriatic.We know, however, that the current increase in temperatures is favoring the success of invasive tropical species, and it is very important to monitor the presence and distribution of these aliens in close collaboration with fishermen."

(Wikipedia cover photo Palmfly – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)