Page 302 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

300 ANIMAL LIFE

SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA hook-shaped hairs that hold its SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA The conspicuous coloring of the
disguise in place, enabling it to blend spotted reef or coral crab is highly
Long-legged in with the seaweed among which it Spotted Reef Crab distinctive. Its smooth, light brown
lives. This crab has a triangular-shaped carapace has two large red spots behind
Spider Crab carapace that extends forward Carpilius maculatus each eye, three across the middle, and
between the eyes into an eight- LENGTH either two or four at the rear. Between
1
toothed projection called a rostrum. About 3 / 2 in (9 cm) the eyes the carapace has four small,
Macropodia rostrata
LENGTH Its spiderlike legs are at least twice HABITAT rounded projections, which are also
Up to 1 in (2.5 cm)
as long as its body and can be used, Shoreline to 33 ft (10 m), characteristic of the species. It is a
HABITAT somewhat ineffectively, for swimming. inshore reefs nocturnal, slow-moving crab that uses
Lower shore, usually not
beyond 165 ft (50 m) The long-legged spider crab feeds on its disproportionately large claws to
small shellfish, algae, small worms, and DISTRIBUTION Indian Ocean and western Pacific feed on corals, snails, and other small
detritus. Breeding occurs year-round marine creatures.
DISTRIBUTION Northeastern Atlantic from southern on Atlantic coasts, but takes place
Norway to Morocco, Mediterranean
between March and September in the
Mediterranean. The male transfers
Also called the decorator crab because sperm to the female using its first pair
it camouflages itself using fragments of of abdominal legs. The female carries
seaweed and sponges, the long- the eggs until they hatch into larvae
legged spider crab is covered in that live in the plankton.

SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA The common shore crab tolerates a
wide range of salt concentrations and
Edible Crab Pea Crab Common temperatures and so can live in salt
marshes and estuaries as well as along
Shore Crab
Cancer pagurus Pinnotheres pisum the shoreline. Its dark green carapace
LENGTH LENGTH has five marked serrations on the edge
1
Up to 6 in (16 cm) Males / 3 in (8 mm); Carcinus maenas behind the eyes. This opportunistic
1
females / 2 in (14 mm) LENGTH
HABITAT hunter preys voraciously on many
1
Intertidal zone to 330 ft HABITAT Up to 2 / 2 in (6 cm) types of animals, including bivalve
(100 m), in rock pools Intertidal zone to 500 ft HABITAT
and muddy sand offshore (150 m) Intertidal zone to 200 ft mollusks, polychaetes, jellyfish, and
(60 m), all substrates; small crustaceans. Where introduced,
estuaries it may be detrimental to local marine
DISTRIBUTION Northeastern Atlantic and North Sea; DISTRIBUTION Eastern Atlantic from northwestern
introduced to parts of the Mediterranean Europe to West Africa, Mediterranean life. On the west coast of the US,
DISTRIBUTION Northeastern Atlantic from Norway to for example, it has had a considerable
The oval carapace of the edible crab Typically about the size of a pea, the West Africa; introduced elsewhere impact on the shellfish industry.
has a characteristically “scalloped” or tiny pea crab is usually found inside
“piecrust” edge around the front and the shells of the common mussel.
sides. Its huge pincers are distinctively Protected from predators in the
black-tipped, while the body is mantle cavity of its host, it feeds on
purple-brown in small individuals and any plankton that becomes trapped
reddish brown in larger ones. Edible on the mussel’s gills as water passes
crabs mate at different times in over them. Whether the presence
different parts of their range, the of this guest is harmful to the mussel
females incubating their eggs for six is unclear. Female pea crabs are
to nine months. This crab is caught substantially larger than males and
in large numbers and is highly have an almost translucent carapace
valued as a luxury food. through which their pink reproductive
black eye organs are visible. Males have harder,
on short yellowish brown carapaces that protect
eye stalk
them during the
breeding season, which
runs from April to October.
During this time, males
leave the safety of their
host’s shell and swim around
looking for females with which
to mate. In regions where
shellfish are harvested
commercially, the pea crab
is considered a pest.
mouth