Selected Crabs of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia e Identification Guide (Crabs shown are not in proportion to each other.) HelmetHelmet oror HorseHorse CrabCrab HairyHairy OregonOregon ShoreShore CrabCrab Telmessus cheiragonus Hemigrapsus oregonensis

Six unequal, jagged Three spines on each spines (teeth) on each side of rectangular side of carapace (shell). carapace. Widest at 4th spine. Two lobes on frontal area. Frontal area protrudes in Hairy legs; no spots front of eyes. on claws. Entire body covered with stiff, bristly hairs. Long, bristly antennae. Spiny, short front claws.

PurplePurple ShoreShore CrabCrab Lined Shore Crab Hemigrapsus nudus Pachygrapsus crassipes

Three spines on each Two spines just behind side of rectangular eyes. carapace. Smooth frontal area. Frontal area slightly Broad, compressed legs rounded, without with bristles. prominent lobes. Transverse lines across Smooth, hairless legs. carapace. Claws with spots. NOTE: The lined shore crab is not found in Alaska.

Kelp Crab Black-ClawedBlack-Clawed CrabCrab Pugettia producta Lophopanopeus bellus

Surface smooth; carapace Smooth, oval-shaped longer than wide, with 3 carapace with 3 lobelike spines. Last 2 most spines on either side. prominent. Widest at Frontal area straight. 3rd spine. Smooth, stout claws, Frontal area composed of 2 unequal in size, with small preorbital spines black fingers; large and prominent 2-forked spine at base of rostrum protruding movable finger. beyond eyes. Velvetlike hairs on Serrated claws; slender, walking legs. cylindrical walking legs.

Red Rock Crab Pygmy Cancer Crab Cancer productus Cancer oregonensis

Fan-shaped carapace with Carapace oval with knobs 10 spines becoming more and grooves. Widest at acute at posterior. 7th or 8th spine. Widest at 9th spine. Frontal area with 5 spines. Frontal area protrudes Outer spines are more beyond eyes, with prominent. 5 spines. Stout claws with black Large claws with black tips. fingers. Hairy, light- Tip of walking legs fringed colored walking legs. with hairs. Dungeness Crab GracefulGraceful CrabCrab Cancer magister Cancer gracilis

Broadly oval carapace Smooth, convex carapace, with 10 spines. Last widest at 9th spine. spine is very sharp. Margins of spine are Carapace widest at outlined in cream. 10th spine. Frontal area with 5 spines. Narrow frontal area with Central spine is smaller. 5 unequal spines. No serration on upper Serrations on upper margin of white-tipped margin of claws. claws. Light-colored leg tips. Slender, purple or reddish walking legs.

This publication was supported by the National Sea Grant College Program of the U.S. PacificPacific RockRock CrabCrab Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Cancer antennarius NOAA Grant number NA16RG1039 (project number M/A-20) and by appropriations made by the Oregon State legislature. Fan-shaped carapace, Publication credits: Designed by Monica Whipple. Crab descriptions compiled by Sylvia widest at 9th spine. Yamada. Edited by Sandy Ridlington. Frontal area with 5 spines. Photo credits: Helmet crab, top side of European green crab, and black-clawed crab— Central spine is smaller. Sylvia Yamada. Hairy Oregon shore crab, kelp crab, red rock crab, Dungeness crab, Large, smooth, black- Pacific rock crab, and underside of European green crab—Gary Weber, copyright Oregon Sea Grant. Graceful crab—Amy B. Broda. Chinese mitten crab—Paul Heimowitz. Lined tipped claws. shore crab—Gregory C. Jensen, Pacific Coast Crabs and Shrimps, 1995, Sea Challeng- Red spots on claw and ers; used with the permission of G. Jensen. Purple shore crab and pygmy Cancer crab, underside. from Morris, Abbott, and Haderlie, Intertidal Invertebrates of California, copyright Hairy legs. 1980 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Jr. University; all rights reserved; used with the permission of Stanford University Press, www.sup.org.

Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State Uni- versity, 322 Kerr Administration Bldg., Corvallis, OR 97331-2131 (541) 737-2716 http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu

WANTED! For threatening our native species and habitats

European Green Crab ChineseChinese MittenMitten CrabCrab Carcinus maenas Eriocheir sinensis Five spines on each side of Furlike hairs on the claws the fan-shaped carapace. of adults. Three rounded lobes Four spines on each side on frontal area. of carapace. Last pair of legs Legs more than twice as somewhat flattened. long as the width of the carapace.

Green crab has been widely Native to Asia, mitten crabs recently have invaded California waters. viewed as an invasive species. Juvenile crabs live in brackish water or freshwater and migrate to In places where it has become estuarine breeding grounds when mature. Mitten crabs cause major abundant, it has reduced the economic and ecological damage. number of native shellfish. Once green crab is caught, If you see what you believe is a GREEN CRAB or a it is unlawful to return it to MITTEN CRAB, please collect it, freeze it, record the pre- state waters. cise date and location found, and contact your nearest department of fish and wildlife office. Green crab: Oregon: 1-866-INVADER Alaska: 877-468-2748 underside view of male (top) Washington: 360-902-2700 B.C.: 250-756-7223 and female (bottom). © 2005 by Oregon State University ORESU-G-05-003