Crabwood
Carapa guianensis
Carapa guianensis is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae, also known by the common names andiroba or crabwood.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapa_guianensis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Family
Meliaceae
Genus
Carapa
Crabwood belongs to the family Meliaceae, order Sapindales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Carapa guianensis is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae, also known by the common names andiroba or crabwood.
Crabwood faces significant pressure from widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Neotropical range, driven by agricultural expansion, logging operations, and urban development. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its slow growth rate and dependence on intact forest ecosystems, making population recovery difficult once local extinctions occur.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Crabwood occurs in tropical rainforests, moist lowland forests, and gallery forests throughout the Amazon Basin and Guianas, typically in well-drained soils from sea level to approximately 800m elevation. The species is also found in secondary forests and forest edges, though it reaches highest densities in primary forest habitats.
Threats
Agricultural expansion
Commercial logging and timber extraction
Deforestation and habitat loss
Habitat fragmentation
Urban development and infrastructure
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Crabwood (Carapa guianensis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/crabwood