BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Carcinus maenas
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Ken Neal & Paolo Pizzolla	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	This ubiquitous crab is found on all shores of Britain and Ireland.
Global distribution	North Eastern Atlantic from northern Norway southwards to West Africa. It has been introduced to the USA, Sri Lanka, Red Sea, Madagascar, South Africa and Australia.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	Intertidal down to 60 m.
Migratory	Insufficient information
Distribution Additional Information	No text entered

Substratum preferences	No preference	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Strait / sound Sealoch Ria / Voe Estuary Isolated saline water (Lagoon) Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Upper Eulittoral Mid Eulittoral Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered Ultra Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible)	Salinity	Low (<18 psu) Variable (18-40 psu) Full (30-40 psu) Reduced (18-30 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fish & Fish, 1996, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Ameyaw-Akumfi & Naylor, 1987,