Metacarcinus gracilis

Metacarcinus gracilis or more commonly the graceful rock crab or slender crab, is one of only two members of the genus Metacarcinus whose chelae (claws) are white tipped, the other crab being M. magister (Dungeness crab).^[2] Cancer gracilis has been caught from Alaska to Bahía Magdelena, Baja California.^[3] Although M. gracilis is only found in the Pacific Ocean, it has cousins in the Atlantic Ocean. The genus Cancer (sensu lato) apparently evolved in the Pacific Ocean and later migrated to the Atlantic Ocean.^[4] Larvae and small juveniles of this species are often seen riding jellyfish, especially Phacellophora camtschatica. The juvenile crabs steal food from the jellyfish and also clean off parasitic amphipods.^[5]

Morphology

Like the other members of the family Cancridae, the slender crab has a very broad and oval carapace with dull tooth-like protrusions toward the front of the carapace. Female crabs can be distinguished from males by the broad tail flap on their undersides, which are used for protecting their eggs when they are gravid. The slender crab usually has a carapace that is olive brown and legs that vary from yellowish brown to purple. M. gracilis only grows to a width of about 3.5 inches (9 cm) and resembles a juvenile M. magister. Often the two species can be confused as M. gracilis looks very similar to a juvenile Dungeness crab. They can readily be distinguished from each other however by the appearance of hair on the posterior three legs of M. magister where M. gracilis is almost always hairless. Another telling characteristic of the slender crab is that the last segment of its tail flap is pointed, where M. magister is curved.

References