Cancer anthonyi

Taxobox
name = "Cancer anthonyi"


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Exuvia of "Cancer anthonyi"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Crustacea
classis = Malacostraca
ordo = Decapoda
subordo = Pleocyemata
infraordo = Brachyura
familia = Cancridae
genus = "Cancer"
species = "C. anthonyi"
binomial = "Cancer anthonyi"
binomial_authority = Rathbun, 1897

"Cancer anthonyi", the "yellow rock crab" or "yellow crab", is a littoral crab native to the Pacific coast of North America from Humboldt Bay in Northern California to Magdalena Bay, Baja California. The habitat of "C. anthonyi" extends from the low intertidal zone to a subtidal depth of 140 m. Generally, juvenile "C. anthonyi" remain at depths less than 33 m. Compared to other California "Cancer" species, "C. anthonyi" is most often caught in southern California, comprising 70-95% of crab catches in 1986. The yellow rock crab like other crustaceans molt 10-12 times before reaching sexual maturity. "C. anthonyi" can exceed 7 inches in carapace width. "C. anthonyi" usually mates around spring time after females have molted their carapace.

Ecological role

"C. anthonyi" is an ecologically important species. It is prey for many fish including the scorpion fish, barred sand bass and other rock fishes. "C. anthonyi" is also prey for sea otters, a threatened species. "C. anthonyi" is both a scavenger and a predator eating anything that the large claws can crush including echinoderms, snails and clams.

Morphology

"C. anthonyi" has an oval carapace which is fairly broad which is widest at the 9th of 10 anterolateral teeth. Its carapace teeth tend to curve forward. Like other California "Cancer" crabs, "C. anthonyi" has black-tipped claws. "C. anthonyi" can be distinguished from the closely related "Cancer antennarius" by its lack of red spotting on its underside. "C. anthonyi" also tends not to decorate itself and tends not have hairy legs. It can vary in coloration from yellow to brown with the juvenile crabs tending to be darker than adults.