Pensoft Zoosystematics and Evolution
Info
The Xanthidae MacLeay, 1838, is one of the most diverse families of Brachyura and comprises 639 species in 124 genera (updated according to Ng et al. 2008).
Crabs of the family Xanthidae are poisonous to highly poisonous and should never be consumed, even intensive cooking cannot neutralize the toxins!
In 2024, a new genus and species within the family Xanthidae MacLeay, 1838, was described from coral reefs in the South China Sea.
The new genus, Gothus, with its type species Gothus teemo, differs from related genera by features of the carapace, chelipeds and male pleon.
The carapace of Gothus teemo is wider than long, its dorsal surface is provided with round granules.
Unfortunately, water depths were not recorded in this first description, so it is not possible to give an exact water temperature.
As a diver, you have to look very closely to spot these small crabs in the coral reef.
Many species of the family Xanthidae can be poisonous, although they themselves have no poisonous apparatus (poisonous teeth, poisonous spines, poisonous glands in the skin), the consumption of these crustaceans can even be fatal for humans. Such animals are considered passive-poisonous.
The toxins of crabs (saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin) are produced by endobacteria and stored in the flesh of the crab, these e are highly potent and similar to the neurotoxins of puffer fish and just as deadly.
In its raw and cooked meat, consumption of the crab meat is toxic to humans!
Please be sure to clarify whether the meat of these crabs is toxic or non-toxic before eating it!
Call an emergency doctor immediately at the first signs of poisoning (e.g. breathing problems, muscle cramps)!
The good news is there’s no way you can be exposed to these toxins if you don’t try to eat these crabs – a bite or a jab isn’t going to do the job.
The bad news for those who unwittingly consume these crabs is that cooking the meat isn’t going to make the toxins any less effective.
Fortunately, toxic crabs don’t want to be eaten just as much as we shouldn’t be eating them, so they help us out with their glorious warning colours.
Etymology
The genus “Gothus” is named after the game of Go, alluding to the mixed black and white patterns on the carapace, under which are circular granules resembling game pieces. “-thus” is a common ending for species names within the Xanthidae family.
Literature reference:
Yuan Z-M, Jiang W, Sha Z-L (2024)
Morphological and molecular evidence for Gothus teemo gen. et sp. nov., a new xanthid crab (Crustacea, Brachyura, Xanthoidea) from coral reefs in the South China Sea, with a review of the taxonomy of Actaeodes consobrinus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867).
Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(3): 965-987. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.117859
Crabs of the family Xanthidae are poisonous to highly poisonous and should never be consumed, even intensive cooking cannot neutralize the toxins!
In 2024, a new genus and species within the family Xanthidae MacLeay, 1838, was described from coral reefs in the South China Sea.
The new genus, Gothus, with its type species Gothus teemo, differs from related genera by features of the carapace, chelipeds and male pleon.
The carapace of Gothus teemo is wider than long, its dorsal surface is provided with round granules.
Unfortunately, water depths were not recorded in this first description, so it is not possible to give an exact water temperature.
As a diver, you have to look very closely to spot these small crabs in the coral reef.
Many species of the family Xanthidae can be poisonous, although they themselves have no poisonous apparatus (poisonous teeth, poisonous spines, poisonous glands in the skin), the consumption of these crustaceans can even be fatal for humans. Such animals are considered passive-poisonous.
The toxins of crabs (saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin) are produced by endobacteria and stored in the flesh of the crab, these e are highly potent and similar to the neurotoxins of puffer fish and just as deadly.
In its raw and cooked meat, consumption of the crab meat is toxic to humans!
Please be sure to clarify whether the meat of these crabs is toxic or non-toxic before eating it!
Call an emergency doctor immediately at the first signs of poisoning (e.g. breathing problems, muscle cramps)!
The good news is there’s no way you can be exposed to these toxins if you don’t try to eat these crabs – a bite or a jab isn’t going to do the job.
The bad news for those who unwittingly consume these crabs is that cooking the meat isn’t going to make the toxins any less effective.
Fortunately, toxic crabs don’t want to be eaten just as much as we shouldn’t be eating them, so they help us out with their glorious warning colours.
Etymology
The genus “Gothus” is named after the game of Go, alluding to the mixed black and white patterns on the carapace, under which are circular granules resembling game pieces. “-thus” is a common ending for species names within the Xanthidae family.
Literature reference:
Yuan Z-M, Jiang W, Sha Z-L (2024)
Morphological and molecular evidence for Gothus teemo gen. et sp. nov., a new xanthid crab (Crustacea, Brachyura, Xanthoidea) from coral reefs in the South China Sea, with a review of the taxonomy of Actaeodes consobrinus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867).
Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(3): 965-987. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.117859
