Portunidae

Definitions

proper noun A taxonomic family within the superfamily Portunoidea — the swimming crabs, with longer and more effective swimming limbs than most other crabs.

Portunus +‎ -idae

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Thanks to recent classes, I knew what they were -- some mud crabs (Grapsidae), some spider crabs (Majoidea), some porcelain crabs (Porcellanidae), and some crabs that really, seriously should not have been there (Portunidae).

Dead crabs and dead mummies and a not dead person: oh my. mariness 2006
The Portunidae had been there for some time, I think -- and I realized what had happened: they'd been washed in by Hurricane Wilma and hadn't crawled back to land.

Dead crabs and dead mummies and a not dead person: oh my. mariness 2006