PORTUNIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Portunidae refers to a family of marine crabs belonging to the order Decapoda, commonly known as swimming crabs or blue crabs. These crabs are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. The family Portunidae includes numerous species, characterized by their broad, flattened carapace, which is typically broader than it is long. Portunidae crabs possess a varied coloration, often including shades of blue, green, or brown.
Portunidae crabs are named after their notable swimming ability, using their hindmost pair of walking legs, modified to function as paddles, to propel themselves through the water swiftly. They are agile predators and scavengers, feeding on a diverse diet that consists primarily of small invertebrates, such as mollusks, crustaceans, and other small organisms.
These crabs are of significant economic importance as a seafood delicacy. They are captured by commercial and recreational fishermen, and their meat is highly valued for its sweet and tender taste. Due to their popularity, portunid crabs are often subject to fishing quotas and regulations to ensure sustainable harvesting.
With their adaptability to different marine environments and their distinctive swimming capabilities, portunidae crabs play an important ecological role in their habitats by controlling population levels of various smaller organisms. They are also valuable indicators of water quality, as they are highly susceptible to pollution and changes in environmental conditions.
Common Misspellings for PORTUNIDAE
- oortunidae
- lortunidae
- -ortunidae
- 0ortunidae
- pirtunidae
- pkrtunidae
- plrtunidae
- pprtunidae
- p0rtunidae
- p9rtunidae
- poetunidae
- podtunidae
- poftunidae
- pottunidae
- po5tunidae
- po4tunidae
- porrunidae
- porfunidae
- porgunidae
Etymology of PORTUNIDAE
The word "Portunidae" is a scientific term used to refer to a family of crabs. The etymology of the word can be broken down as follows:
The term "Portunidae" comes from the Latin word "Portunus", referring to a genus of crabs within this family. "Portunus" is named after the Roman god Portunus, who was the god of harbors, gates, and keys.
The suffix "-idae" is a common suffix in taxonomical nomenclature, used to indicate a family level classification.
So, ultimately, "Portunidae" got its name from the Latin term "Portunus", which is a genus of crabs, and the suffix "-idae" indicating it belongs to the family level classification.
Similar spelling words for PORTUNIDAE
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