A cosmopolitan species widely distributed all major water of the world, found through Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Java, Australia, and Hawaii.

[2] Two subspecies are recognized:[3] A large crab with 15–20 cm of maximum length.

Greyish green carapace is very broad and characterized by 3 red spots in posterior half.

[4] Primarily a carnivore, found in marine waters and intertidal zone by juveniles.

Commercially harvested as an edible crab species in many countries.