A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Hemigraspus sanguineus
Small crab that is identifiable by its square shaped carapace, light and dark banding, and 3 spines on each side of its carapace. Asian shore crabs are a non native invasive species first spotted in New Jersey in 1988. They have since moved northward to the Maine coastline and south to North Carolina. Asian shore crabs are highly reproductive, having a breeding season twice as long as native crab species. They compete with native crab species for food and living space.
Intertidal zone, often beneath rocks. Asian shore crabs can survive in a wide range of temperatures and salinities.
Found a group of 4 Asian shore crabs beneath a rock at Bullocks Point, East Providence, RI. This location is in the upper parts of Narragansett Bay.
Spotted on Apr 19, 2012
Submitted on Apr 21, 2012
No Comments