| Glebocarcinus oregonensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Cancridae |
| Genus: | Glebocarcinus |
| Species: | G. oregonensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Glebocarcinus oregonensis (Dana, 1852) [1] |
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| Synonyms [1] | |
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Glebocarcinus oregonensis, commonly known as the pygmy rock crab, is a species of crab found on the Pacific coast of North America.
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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]
G. 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 1 male with as many as 7 females.[3] Males may carry females that are molting and continue them until their new shell hardens, for mating occurs after females molt.[3]