Glebocarcinus oregonensis
Glebocarcinus oregonensis, commonly known as the pygmy rock crab, is a species of crab found on the Pacific coast of North America.
| Glebocarcinus oregonensis | |
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| Species: | G. oregonensis |
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| Glebocarcinus oregonensis | |
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Description
It is usually red/brown but this may vary; their legs have many setae (hairs). The carapace reaches a width of about 5 centimetres (2 in), and is widest at the 7th or 8th lateral tooth.[2] The chelipeds are black at the tip, and the dactylus of the cheliped has no spiny ridges; the dorsal surface is covered with small tubercles (rounded projections), and males have larger chelipeds than females.[3]
Ecology
Glebocarcinus oregonensis is found mostly in crevices, holes (dead barnacles) and under rocks.[3] They can live in depths of up to 1,400 feet (430 m).[2] They are nocturnal feeders, feeding mostly on small barnacles, snails, bivalves, worms, green algae and Pacific oysters.[3] Predators include Pacific cod, river otters and red rock crab.[3]
Breeding occurs during the summer, and the Puget Sound females carry eggs from November to May.[3] It is not unusual to find harems consisting of one male with as many as seven females.[3] Males may carry females that are molting and continue until their new shell hardens, for mating occurs after females molt.[3]
References
- Peter K. L. Ng, Danièle Guinot & Peter J. F. Davie (2008). "Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 17: 1–286. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06.
- Mary Jo Adams (December 5, 2005). "Cancer oregonensis (Pygmy rock crab)". Intertidal Organisms EZ-ID Guides. Washington State University Extension - Island County. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
- Dave Cowles (2005). "Glebocarcinus oregonensis (Dana), Schweitzer and Feldmann, 2000)". Walla Walla University. Archived from the original on July 19, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
Further reading
- Eugene N. Kozloff & Linda H. Price (1996). Marine invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-97562-7.