Description: A deep-water homolid crab, with a longer than wide carapace, nearly quadrangular in outline, covered with spines and hairs. The frontal margin has 3 sharp teeth. A pair of very long chelipeds, strong and spinous, and four pairs of walking legs. The first three pairs are long, slender and spinous; the last pair is also slender but much shorter than the others and modified to carry objects on the back, usually sponges. Generally light red or orange; the spines and legs are dark red. In males, the first pereiopods are longer.
Global Distribution: Eastern Atlantic, including off islands, and the Mediterranean. View Map
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES
Size: Males: maximum carapace length 215 mm; maximum weight 2574 g; females; maximum length 109 mm CL, maximum weight 965 g. Males are significantly larger and heavier than females.
Reproduction: Off West Africa, ovigerous females have been recorded in March and October.
In the Canary Islands, ovigerous females were found year-round, but large ovigerous females (> 80 mm CW) were found from summer to winter, whereas small ovigerous females (< 80 mm CW) were mostly found in the summer.
Mean fecundity 315,753 external eggs per female. Fecundity increases with the size of the female.
The mating process is relatively long, with the male protecting the female whie it moults and then using its chela to place the female in the mating position.
Maturity: 71.7 - 74.0 mm carapace width (females); 91.0 mm CW (males).
Behavioural ecology: These crabs usually carry sessile invertebrates over their carapace, holding them with the fifth pereiopods. Most often they carry deep-sea sponges of the family Demospongiae, but also corals and hydroids. They select these items according to morphology and size, and both males and females exhibit this behaviour. They use them as camouflage and as an active defense mechanism to push predators and competitors away.
Population structure & migrations:
ECOLOGICAL FEATURES
Depth range: SeaLifeBase: 10 - 1000 m, usually 80 - 350 m
Habitat: Benthic on soft bottoms, mostly on mud or sandy mud. Usually beyond shelf depths.
Feeding habits: Feeds on fish remains and benthic crustaceans.
Trophic level:
FISHERIES
Commercial interest: Commercial species. Captured with traps.
Conservation status: Not evaluated.
Nutritional information & food safety:
Proximate composition per 100 g:
energy value 95.93 kcal (4.8% DRV)
protein 15.91 g (31.8% DRV)
fat 0.48 g (0.7% DRV)
of which saturates 0.09 g (0.4% DRV)
omega-3 (EPA+DHA): 0.162 g (recommended: 0.250 - 2.0 g daily)
REFERENCES
Braga-Henriques A., Carreiro-Silva M., Tempera F., Porteiro F.M., Jakobsen K., Jakobsen J., Albuquerque M., Santos R.S. (2012). Carrying behavior in the deep-sea crab Paromola cuvieri (Northeast Atlantic). Marine Biodiversity, 42(1): 37-46.
Capezzuto F., Maiorano P., Panza M., Indennidate A., Sion L., D'Onghia G. (2012). Occurrence and behaviour of Paromola cuvieri (Crustacea, Decapoda) in the Santa Maria di Leuca cold-water coral community (Mediterranean Sea). Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 59: 1-7.
Cartes J.E. (1993). Diets of deep-sea brachyuran crabs in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Marine Biology, 117(3): 449-457.
Company J.B., Sardà F. (2000). Growth parameters of deep-water decapod crustaceans in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea: a comparative approach. Marine Biology, 136: 79-90.
Fischer W., Bianchi G., Scott W.B., eds. (1981). FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic; fishing areas 34, 47 (in part). Canada Funds-in-Trust. Ottawa, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, by arrangement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, vol. 6, 304 pp.
