Carpilius, Xanthid Crabs

Our review of the coral crab genus Carpilius places the two Pacific taxa as the sister taxa to the Caribbean species. The validity of the family Carpiliidae was supported, but higher xanthoid relationships of Carpiliidae, "Xanthidae," Menippidae, Trapeziidae, and Ocypodidae to one another could not be ascertained with the mitochondrial 12S- and 16S-rDNA gene fragments used in the study. A Menippide and Carpilius relationship could not be rejected, although a Liomera, Liagore, and Carpilius relationship was rejected.

Carpilius maculatus (with spots) and C. convexus (mottled) after cooking

on their way to becoming dinner

During my graduate studies at the University of South Carolina on harpacticoid copepods (average size 1-2 mm), I sometimes wished for larger organisms. This wish became a reality during my postdoctoral work in the Martin Lab. Not only are carpiliid crabs meal-sized, but as luck would have it for me, they have much more tissue than one needs for molecular phylogenetic studies.

Although unknown to me, human deaths attributed to the eating of Carpilius had been reported in the literature as early as 1705. When I fessed up to my advisor, Jody Martin, to consuming the remnants of some of the study organisms and even serving them to my family (including my 93 year old grandmother), he scolded not to eat any more. No ill befell my family or myself from eating the crabs. However, potential human poisoning cannot be ruled out until carefully designed toxicity tests are carried out. Crabs may become toxic as a result of the toxins they accumulate in their food, and some may be able to produce their own toxins.

For more on crab poisoning see

Crab Poisoning and Various Shellfish Associated Toxins