Lithodidae
From Natural History of Southeast Alaska
Family: Lithodidae
Group: Marine Invertebrate, Species
Scientific Name | Common Name | Summary |
---|---|---|
Cryptolithodes sitchensis | Umbrella crab | This crab is fairly uncommon, usually found during minus tides, and is almost always less than two inches across. It looks like the butterfly crab (rare, if present), which has a rostrum that flares in, rather than out as in the umbrella crab. |
Hapalogaster mertensii | Hairy crab | This is a rather hard-to-find intertidal crab, but it is easily recognized from all the standard crabs by its funny fuzz. The similar species to look out for is Hapalogaster grebnitzkii, which has longer rostrum and blue insides of its pincer fingers. Otherwise, the closest species is Granular claw crab (Oedignathus inermis), which also has a soft "belly," but no hair. |
Oedignathus inermis | Granular claw crab | Beautiful, hard-to-find crab, which likes to squeeze into crevices in high-energy locations, so tightly that only its large right cheliped is visible. its soft "belly" explains its behavior, and illustrates its taxonomic position as an intermediate form between the hermit crabs and king crabs. |
Phyllolithodes papillosus | Heart Crab | This pretty little crab is not very easy to find, even on the outer coast. |