Cancer productus

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Cancer productus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Cancridae
Genus: Cancer
Species:
C. productus
Binomial name
Cancer productus
Randall
, 1839

The red rock crab, one of several species known as

Cancer found on the western coast of North America. This species is commonly nicknamed the Pearl of the Pacific Northwest
.

Description

Juveniles may be variously patterned

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 20.0 cm wide. The pincers are large with distinctive 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 juveniles is diverse, often white, sometimes with red spots, or zebra-striped.[2]

Similar species

chelipeds and lacks black tips. The graceful rock crab (Metacarcinus 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. The pygmy rock crab (Glebocarcinus oregonensis) has black-tipped chelipeds, but has large tubercles on the dorsum. Glebocarcinus oregonensis is also much smaller, such that a C. productus of similar size would generally have a striking juvenile coloration.[2] Cancer pagurus
is very similar, but distinguished by its non-overlapping range.

Range and habitat

Closeup of a red rock crab

Cancer productus ranges from

intertidal waters to 79 m depth.[3]

Biology

Cancer productus is

Enteroctopus dofleini.[5]

Fishery

Cancer productus is harvested by sport and commercial fishermen in California, mostly from

C. anthonyi), the brown rock crab (R. antennarium), and the red rock crab (C. productus). Rock crab landings for 1999 were 790,000 pounds and have averaged 1.2 million pounds per year from 1991–1999.[1]

It is not as sought after as

Washington
, when in season.

References

  1. ^ a b Parker, David O. (December 2001). "Rock Crabs". Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Eugene N. Kozloff (1987). Marine Invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA. pp. 511 pp.
  3. ^ Gregory C. Jensen (1995). Pacific Coast Crabs and Shrimps. Sea Challengers, Monterey, CA. pp. 87 pp.
  4. ^ R. H. Morris, D. P. Abbot and E. C. Haderlie (1980). Intertidal Invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. pp. 690 pp.
  5. ^ E. B. Hartwick, L. Tulloch and S. MacDonald (1981). "Feeding and growth of Octopus dofleini". The Veliger. 24 (2): 129–138.

External links

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