Krabidae

Krabidae is a family of brachyuran crabs, commonly known as true crabs. This family is the sole extant family within the superfamily Krabsoidea. Krabidae are characterized by their robust, ovate carapace, which is typically broader than it is long. They possess five pairs of pereiopods, with the first pair modified into powerful chelipeds (claws). The second to fifth pereiopods are primarily used for locomotion.

These crabs are found in a variety of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea. Their distribution is largely global, with species inhabiting temperate and tropical oceans worldwide. Krabidae are often benthic, dwelling on the seabed, and can be found on substrates such as sand, mud, and rock. Their diet is typically omnivorous, consisting of algae, invertebrates, and carrion.

Reproduction in Krabidae follows the typical pattern for brachyuran crabs, with external fertilization and the females carrying the fertilized eggs attached to their pleopods. The larval stages are planktonic before settling to the seabed to metamorphose into juvenile crabs.

While many species are of ecological importance in their respective habitats, some members of the Krabidae family are also of commercial value, being harvested for human consumption. The taxonomy of Krabidae has undergone revisions, with some previously assigned genera now placed in different families or superfamilies. Despite these taxonomic shifts, Krabidae remains a significant and well-studied group within the decapod crustaceans.