Metacarcinus anthonyi

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Metacarcinus anthonyi
Temporal range: Pliocene–Recent
Exuvia
of Metacarcinus anthonyi
Metacarcinus anthonyi male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Cancridae
Genus: Metacarcinus
Species:
M. anthonyi
Binomial name
Metacarcinus anthonyi
(Rathbun, 1897)
Metacarcinus anthonyi range
Synonyms

Cancer anthonyi Rathbun, 1897 [1]

Metacarcinus anthonyi, the yellow rock crab or yellow crab, is a species of edible crab native to the Pacific coast of North America.

Distribution

Metacarcinus anthonyi occurs from

San Pedro.[2] It lives in rocky areas at depths of up to 132 m (433 ft).[2] Only the juveniles live in the intertidal zone.[3]

Some fossils of M. anthonyi are also known from central and southern California, dating from the Pliocene and Pleistocene.[2]

Description

Male yellow rock crabs can reach 165 mm carapace width, while females reach 148 mm.[4] The carapace is oval, fairly broad, and widest at the 9th of 10 forward-curving anterolateral teeth. Like other California Cancridae crabs, M. anthonyi has black-tipped claws. M. anthonyi can be distinguished from Romaleon antennarium by its lack of red spotting on its underside. M. anthonyi also tends not to decorate itself and tends not to have hairy legs. It can vary in coloration from yellow to brown with the juvenile crabs tending to be darker than adults.

Metacarcinus anthonyi is one of only two species that regularly reach the

fisheries.[3] R. antennarium is also caught throughout Southern California commercially[3]

Ecology and life cycle

Metacarcinus anthonyi is an ecologically important species. It is prey for many fish including the

predator eating anything that the large claws can crush including echinoderms, snails and clams
.

Metacarcinus anthonyi reaches sexual maturity after 10–12 molts.[5] Mating typically takes place in June, and occurs shortly after the females have molted.[2] Before molting, females release a pheromone which induces courtship behavior in the males.[2]

Taxonomy

Metacarcinus anthonyi was

first described by Mary J. Rathbun in 1897, under the name Cancer anthonyi.[1] The specific epithet commemorates Alfred Webster Anthony, a naturalist working in San Diego.[6]

Fishery

Metacarcinus anthonyi is harvested by sport and commercial fishermen in California, mostly from

C. antennarius), 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.[7]

References

  1. ^
    PDF
    )     on 2011-06-06.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8047-1045-9
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-520-05924-5
    .
  4. ^ Carroll, Jay; Winn, Richard (1989). "Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest)". U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 82 (11.117): 16.
  5. ISBN 978-1-879906-57-0
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-8018-9304-9
    .
  7. ^ Parker, David O. (December 2001). "Rock Crabs". Retrieved September 10, 2013.
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