It is semi-terrestrial, returning to the sea to spawn.[4] The species appears to be adversely affected by the presence of raccoons (Procyon lotor), an invasive predator.[4]H. tridens has a salinity requirement which lies between those of two other estuarine crabs in Japan, Helicana japonica and Chiromantes dehaani.[5]
Helice tridens was first described by Wilhem de Haan in an 1835 volume of Fauna Japonica, as Ocypode tridens.[7] The former subspecies H. t. wuana and H. t. sheni are now recognised as a separate species, Helicana wuana.[2]
^ abHisayo Hayama, Masato Kaneda & Mayuh Tabata (2006). "Rapid range expansion of the feral raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and its impact on native organisms". In F. Koike; M. N. Clout; M. Kawamichi; M. De Poorter & K. Iwatsuki (eds.). Assessment and Control of Biological Invasion Risks(PDF). Shoukadoh Book Sellers, Kyoto, Japan and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. pp. 196โ199. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-01-31.