Category: Crustaceans — Crabs & Lobsters

Pelagic Red Crabs

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Munididae (squat lobster) — Genus Pleuroncodes  Species: Pleuroncodes planipes (Stimson, 1860) Species: Pelagic red crab Alternate Name: Tuna crab, red crab, lobster krill, langostilla. Identification: Generally bright red and in appearance resembles a lobster although…

California Spiny Lobster

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Palinuridae (Spiny Lobster) Species: Panulirus interruptus (Randall, 1840); interruptus refers to the grooves on the abdomen which are interrupted in this species. Alternate Name: Bugs, crayfish, marine crayfish, rock lobster and red lobster. In…

Kelp Crab aka Northern Kelp Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Superfamily Majoidea (Spider Crabs) — Family Epialtidae — Genus Pugettia  Species: Pugettia producta, (Stimpson, 1857); Pugettia (Puget Sound) producta (product of). Alternate Name: Shield-back crab, northern kelp crab, northern lame crab, and spider crab. Called…

Sheep Crab aka Spider Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Superfamily Majoidea (Spider Crabs) — Family Epialtidae — Genus Loxorhynchus  Species: Loxorhynchus grandis, (Stimpson, 1857): Loxorhynchus (bent nose) grandis (large). Alternate Name: Spider crab and California king crab. Identification: Sheep crabs have a large, hard…

Red Crab aka Red Rock Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Cancridae (Cancer Crabs) — Genus Cancer Species: Cancer productus (Randall, 1839). Alternate Names: Red crab or red rock crab. Identification: Red crabs have a wide, hard shell with large, black-tipped pincers on the claws.…

Yellow Crab aka Yellow Rock Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Cancridae (Cancer Crabs) — Genus Cancer Species: Cancer anthonyi, (Rathbun, 1897). (Alternate Metacarcinus anthonyi). The name honors Alfred Webster Anthony, a naturalist working in San Diego. Alternate Names: Yellow crab and yellow rock crab…

Slender Crab aka Graceful Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Cancridae (Cancer Crabs) — Genus Cancer Species: Cancer gracilis (Dana, 1852). (Alternate Metacarcinus gracilis). Alternate Name: Graceful rock crab. Identification: The slender crab has a very broad and oval-shaped shell with dull tooth-like protrusions…

Dungeness Crab

 Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Cancridae (Cancer Crabs) — Genus Cancer   Photo ID courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Species: Cancer magister (Dana, 1852) Some scientists, based on the shapes of the teeth of the carapace,…