[7] The males are bright blue in color with white spots and with characteristically long chelipeds, while the females have a duller green/brown, with a more rounded carapace.

The species is commercially important throughout the Indo-Pacific, where they may be sold as traditional hard shells, or as "soft-shelled" crabs, which are considered a delicacy throughout Asia.

This species is fished heavily and almost exclusively for meat consumption in the Persian Gulf, with the females sold at higher prices than males.

Once the megalopa metamorphoses to the crab stage, they continue to spend time in estuaries which provides a suitable habitat for shelter and food.

However, evidence has shown that early juveniles cannot tolerate low salinities for extended periods, which is likely due to its weak hyper-osmoregulatory abilities.