Nutritional Freshwater Life
108
Order: Decapoda
Family: Portunidae
Common name: Gladiator swim crab.
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: From
Mauritania to Angola (http://www.
sealifebase.fisheries.ubc.ca/summary/
Callinectes-pallidus.html).
Habitat: Sandy and muddy bottoms in
brackish and marine waters at less than
30 m depth.
Description: Carapace of this species is
rhombic with broad anterior and posterior edges and a rough surface. Sides
of the carapace are elongated to form a
lateral spine and anterolateral teeth are
present. In addition, the fourth pair of
walking legs in this species is broad
and flattened to form a paddle, which
helps in swimming. This species has
a maximum carapace width of 10.9 cm
(Akin-Oriola et al., 2005).
Cardisoma armatum Herklots 1851
Order: Decapoda
Family: Gecarcinidae
Common name: African rainbow crab.
Distribution: West Africa.
Habitat: River and coastal areas.
Description: Crabs of this species have
a blue to purple carapace and orange
to red legs. Carapace is apple shaped
and smooth with no anterolateral teeth.
Males are more colorful than females.
This species has a maximum carapace
width of 20 cm and has an average life
span of 2–3 years (Akin-Oriola et al.,
2005).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition of Meat (% DM)
Moisture Protein Fat CHO a Ash Fiber
C. pallidus
53.56
24.38 2.09 5.40 13.41 1.16
C. armatum
51.50
23.94 1.65 7.13 14.96 1.14
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals of Meat (mg/kg DM)
Ca
K
Mg
Na
Fe
Mn Zn Cu
C. pallidus
3844 1489
3843 2056
9.3 34.4 5.8 84.8
C. armatum 18,902 5720 26,462 1147 10.5
9.3 5.8 84.8
Source: Data from Elegbede and Fashina-Bombata (2013).
108
Order: Decapoda
Family: Portunidae
Common name: Gladiator swim crab.
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: From
Mauritania to Angola (http://www.
sealifebase.fisheries.ubc.ca/summary/
Callinectes-pallidus.html).
Habitat: Sandy and muddy bottoms in
brackish and marine waters at less than
30 m depth.
Description: Carapace of this species is
rhombic with broad anterior and posterior edges and a rough surface. Sides
of the carapace are elongated to form a
lateral spine and anterolateral teeth are
present. In addition, the fourth pair of
walking legs in this species is broad
and flattened to form a paddle, which
helps in swimming. This species has
a maximum carapace width of 10.9 cm
(Akin-Oriola et al., 2005).
Cardisoma armatum Herklots 1851
Order: Decapoda
Family: Gecarcinidae
Common name: African rainbow crab.
Distribution: West Africa.
Habitat: River and coastal areas.
Description: Crabs of this species have
a blue to purple carapace and orange
to red legs. Carapace is apple shaped
and smooth with no anterolateral teeth.
Males are more colorful than females.
This species has a maximum carapace
width of 20 cm and has an average life
span of 2–3 years (Akin-Oriola et al.,
2005).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition of Meat (% DM)
Moisture Protein Fat CHO a Ash Fiber
C. pallidus
53.56
24.38 2.09 5.40 13.41 1.16
C. armatum
51.50
23.94 1.65 7.13 14.96 1.14
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals of Meat (mg/kg DM)
Ca
K
Mg
Na
Fe
Mn Zn Cu
C. pallidus
3844 1489
3843 2056
9.3 34.4 5.8 84.8
C. armatum 18,902 5720 26,462 1147 10.5
9.3 5.8 84.8
Source: Data from Elegbede and Fashina-Bombata (2013).