Is the Actaeodes tomentosus poisonous? Getting to know this crab correctly

The Actaeodes tomentosus is a crustacean of the genus Actaeodes in the family Xanthidae. It generally inhabits rocky seabeds at depths of 10 to 30 m, and is distributed in Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, East Africa, as well as Guangdong and Hainan Island in mainland China. Let us take a look below at whether the Actaeodes tomentosus is poisonous!

Is the Actaeodes tomentosus poisonous?

The Actaeodes tomentosus is poisonous. Although the name "Actaeodes tomentosus" sounds very upright, this crab is poisonous and not suitable for eating. Its body can produce tetrodotoxin. As for whether it is upright and whether it loves cleanliness, who knows. What matters is to remember what this fellow looks like and never eat it by mistake.

Can the Actaeodes tomentosus be eaten?

The Actaeodes tomentosus cannot be eaten. The Actaeodes tomentosus is the crab that has caused the most human deaths from poisoning, and it can produce tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin is one of the most toxic neurotoxins found in nature. It is an amino perhydroquinazoline-type compound and was once considered the most toxic non-protein toxin in nature. The toxin has a local irritant effect on the intestinal tract. After absorption, it rapidly acts on nerve endings and the nerve center, and can block sodium ion channels on nerve excitable membranes with high selectivity and high affinity, hindering nerve conduction, thereby causing nerve paralysis and death.

What are the common highly poisonous crabs?

1. Atergatis floridus: The carapace of Atergatis floridus is transversely oval, with a noticeably raised and partitioned back and a smooth surface. The entire dorsal side is blue-green to purplish brown, with irregular white, brown and yellow-orange patterns interspersed, forming a special mottled coloration. The carapace is about 5 cm long and about 10 cm wide. It is distributed in rocky reef or coral reef areas of tropical and subtropical seas such as the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, and is found in Hengchun, Xiaoliuqiu and Lanyu in southern Taiwan, China.

2. Actaeodes tomentosus: The carapace of Actaeodes tomentosus is transversely oval, quite raised on the back and smooth on the surface. The whole body is tea-brown to purple with green, and the dorsal side of the carapace has light brown or brass-colored cloud-like markings. The carapace is about 3 cm long and about 5 cm wide. It is distributed in rocky reef or coral reef areas of tropical and subtropical seas such as the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, and its traces are commonly seen in the rocky reef waters along the southern coast of Taiwan, China.

3. Lophozozymus pictor: The carapace of Lophozozymus pictor is transversely elliptical and smooth on the surface. The finger joints of the chelipeds are black, the legs are broad and flat with bundles of bristles on each segment, and the whole body has a red-and-white reticulated pattern. The carapace is about 5 cm long and about 9 cm wide. This crab has been reported in Singapore and the Philippines to cause death from accidental poisoning after being eaten. It is distributed in coastal areas of Southeast Asian countries, the South Pacific islands, Japan and elsewhere, and can be caught year-round along the northern coast of Taiwan, China.

4. Demania reynaudi: The carapace of Demania reynaudi is pentagonal, with the front divided into two lobes and an inverted triangular notch. The surface of the chelipeds and carapace has scale-like or bluntly rounded granules. The overall dorsal background color is cream or pale orange, with irregular chestnut-colored patches of varying sizes. The finger joints of the chelipeds are white. The carapace is about 4 cm long and about 6 cm wide. It is distributed in coastal areas of Southeast Asian countries, the South Pacific islands, Japan and elsewhere, and also occurs in nearshore coral reefs and rocky reefs in Taiwan, China. All 3 species of Demania produced in the Philippines have been confirmed to be toxic species.

5. Actaeodes hirsutissimus: The carapace of Actaeodes hirsutissimus is oval, densely covered with granules and short bristles on the shell surface, and the dorsal side is red-orange to dark red. The fingers of the chelipeds are black. It is distributed along the coasts of Vietnam, the Philippines, New Guinea, Japan, Taiwan, China and other places, inhabiting rocky reefs or coral reefs from below the low tide line to a water depth of 30 m, and can be caught year-round along the northern and southern coasts of Taiwan, China.

6. Xanthias lamarckii: The carapace, chelipeds and walking legs of Xanthias lamarckii are smooth on the surface. The carapace is transversely elliptical, and the front two-thirds of the surface is relatively raised. The dorsal background color of the carapace, chelipeds and walking legs is cream, mixed with coffee-colored patterns or patches of varying shades. The fingers of the chelipeds are black, and the bristles on the walking legs are golden yellow. The carapace is about 3 cm long and about 5 cm wide. It is distributed along the coasts of Japan, Taiwan, China, the Marshall Islands, Sumatra, the Chagos Islands, Mauritius, Reunion and other places, inhabiting coral reefs in the intertidal zone.