Description
In the year 2000 the Japanese crab was seen for the first time in Zeeland, they originate from Japan as you could guess by its name. It can be recognized easily by its almost square carapace, with the eyes placed almost at the corner. Males have heavier claws than the females and they also have a patch of hair on the inside of the claw where the joint is. It can easily be found be turning stones at low tide.

Size
The male are larger than the females and their carapace can reach a width of 28 mm.

Colour
Top side of the carapace is often green, brown or greyish. Some juvenile specimens have a large white spot on the carapace. The bottom side is almost white.

Habitat
In the tidal zone under rocks and stones or between oysters.

Distribution
This species originates from the north western Pacific in 1990 introduced in the bay of Biscay and in 2000 in the Netherlands.