Crab I've never seen before?

DiverDown · Post by **DiverDown** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:20 pm

Ok Nailer99 and I did a dive on Tuesday and we found a bone. Besides the bone I saw a crab that I have never seen before. Where can I look on the web to try to identify this species? This crab had a narrow skinny body with long legs. It kinda looked like an Opelio crab but it was grey???

Cera · Post by **Cera** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:25 pm

Try this site.. it has crabs... try not to catch them.. ha ha

http://www.elasmodiver.com/BCMarinelife ... ropoda.htm

DiverDown · Post by **DiverDown** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:20 pm

I cant find an online resourse that shows a pic of the crab I saw. Anyother suggestions? Im stumped..

I also tried this site, To no avail..

http://www.elasmodiver.com/BCMarinelife ... hropoda.ht

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:55 pm

Hopefully Janna or Val can help.

Cera · Post by **Cera** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:43 pm

I think I would google 'crabs' and see what pages i get.. you could also narrow it down by 'crabs' + 'pacific nw' or something. If you don't have a photo, I don't think anyone will really be able to identify it...... except you. Good luck on your search!

Zen Diver · Post by **Zen Diver** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:53 am

Try this site as well

http://www.seaotter.com/marine-life.html (hit the crustacean link on the left)

-Valerie

nwscubamom · Post by **nwscubamom** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:29 am

Try this site too.
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/race/media/pho ... phylum.htm

If you can't find what you're looking for, give me some more details about how large, what depth, etc and I can ask Dr Crabby himself, Greg Jensen (who just happened to write the book on crabs and shrimps)

He'll know!

- Janna

DiverDown · Post by **DiverDown** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:01 am

nwscubamom wrote:Try this site too.
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/race/media/pho ... phylum.htm

If you can't find what you're looking for, give me some more details about how large, what depth, etc and I can ask Dr Crabby himself, Greg Jensen (who just happened to write the book on crabs and shrimps)

He'll know!

- Janna

Thaks for the link. I think I found it on the NOAA website..

Its looked alot like this tanner crab.. It was found at Mukilteo at a depth of 110fsw. I

gcbryan · Post by **gcbryan** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:11 pm

Could it have been a Long Legged Decorator Crab?

DiverDown · Post by **DiverDown** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:28 pm

gcbryan wrote:Could it have been a Long Legged Decorator Crab?

I googled the image, and it is definitely not the crab I saw. It looked a lot like the tanner crab. How many species of crabs are similar to the tanner?

John Rawlings · Post by **John Rawlings** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:43 pm

DiverDown wrote:
gcbryan wrote:Could it have been a Long Legged Decorator Crab?
I googled the image, and it is definitely not the crab I saw. It looked a lot like the tanner crab. How many species of crabs are similar to the tanner?

It may have BEEN a Tanner Crab. They are found in Washington and their habitat is mud or sandy bottoms, which fits Mukilteo quite nicely. They are normally found in deeper water than you describe, but have in fact been seen far shallower.

The color can be variable as well. Did you shine your light directly on it? If so, did you happen to notice red eyes? The eyes of the Tanner crab are red.

- John

DiverDown · Post by **DiverDown** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:55 pm

The color can be variable as well. Did you shine your light directly on it? If so, did you happen to notice red eyes? The eyes of the Tanner crab are red.

I went back and read my post, I should have realised that everything is grey at 110fsw.. I also want to say (I don't know what the proper term for it is). But the part that determines the sex, rounded the back to the shell. It was very distinct. I only saw the back of the crab..