Description

Three Large Crabs – Portunus pankowskiorum

Miocene

Monterey Formation

Monterey County CA USA.

58mm, 62mm and 72mm crabs on 240mm slab.  Very rare for the Monterey Formation.

Crustacean. Arthropod.

Portunus is a genus of crab that appeared during the Middle Eocene and still lives today.  Fossil specimens have been found in various parts of the world including the United States, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Brazil, southern Europe, Malaysia, and Pakistan.

The genus includes a few modern species that are commercially-fished such as the blue swimming crab.

Here’s a very unusual triple for the crab collector looking for a unique display piece.