Violet Vinegar Crab

The genus Episesarma comprises some of the largest sesarmid crabs. E. versicolor is distinguished by its white tipped violet chela (claw). Males grow up to a maximum length of 5 cm. The carapace is square-shaped and relatively flat, colored brown to brownish grey. The first gonopod of male E. versicolor has a narrower, shorter tip compared to other members of the genus. The dorsal portion of the dactylus possess 65-80 densely packed projections called tubercles These bony spine-like structures are more pronounced in males and, as seen in other crab species with tubercles, seem to be stridulatory organs for generating sound.

A mangrove inhabitant, it is found all over Southeast Asian countries such as Southern China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, northern Australia and South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. They also seem to possess an estimate of around 40 bony spine-like structures called tubercles. These are more pronounced in males and these tubercles like in other crab species that have them seemingly represent stridulatory organs used to create sound.

Like most crabs they possess both male and female sexes. A ritual is generally performed utilizing both olfactory and tactile cues followed by an indirect sperm transfer.