The Alien Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir Sinensis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), in the Thames Catchment

Abstract

Eriocheir sinensis, the Chinese mitten crab, is a native of east Asia and predominantly lives in freshwater but migrates seawards to breed. In 1912 a specimen was collected in the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser, Germany and now this exotic species has a European distribution from Finland to the Atlantic coast of southern France. In the UK, the mitten crab has been reported from the Humber, Medway and Thames catchments. Although the population in Thames had remained low, recent evidence suggests it is increasing, which has potential environmental implications.