Cancer productus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Red rock crab | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Cancer productus Randall, 1839 |
Cancer productus, commonly known as the red rock crab, is a crab of the genus Cancer found on the western coast of North America.
Contents |
[edit] Description
Cancer productus has carapace teeth that are somewhat broad and rounded with teeth between the eyes of nearly equal size and shape. The carapace of C. productus is widest at the posterior-most tooth, up to 200 mm wide. The chelipeds are large with black tips. This species lacks serrations or projections on the ventral side of the claws. Adults have a brick red coloration throughout. The coloration of juvenile C. productus is diverse, often white, sometimes with red spots, or zebra striped.[1]
[edit] Similar species
Cancer magister has serrations on the dorsal side of the chelipeds and lacks black tips. Cancer gracilis has a single projection on the dorsal side of the chelipeds and also lacks black tips, and the widest point of carapace is at the second posterior-most tooth. Cancer oregonensis has black tipped chelipeds, but has large tubercles on the dorsum. C. oregonensis is also much smaller, such that a C. productus of similar size would generally have the striking juvenile coloration.[1]
[edit] Range and habitat
C. productus ranges from Kodiak Island, Alaska to Isla San Martine, Baja California. It inhabits mid-intertidal waters to 79 m depth.[2]
[edit] Biology
Cancer productus is carnivorous and in Puget Sound will crush barnacles with its large chelipeds for consumption. Small living crabs and dead fish are also eaten. Mating in this species occurs when the female is soft-shelled from October to to June in Puget Sound. The male can often been seen guarding females until molting during this time.[3] This species is known to be a favorite prey item of Enteroctopus dofleini, the giant Pacific octopus.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Kozloff, Eugene N. (1987). Marine Invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA. 511 pp.
- ^ Jensen, Gregory C. (1995). Pacific Coast Crabs and Shrimps. Sea Challengers, Monterey, CA. 87 pp.
- ^ Morris, R.H., Abbot, D.P, and Haderlie, E.C. (1980). Intertidal Invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. 690 pp.
- ^ Hartwick, E.B., Tulloch, L. and MacDonald, S. (1981). Feeding and growth of Octopus dofleini. The Veliger 24(2): 129–138.
