Asian Shore Crab

Description:

Small crabs with a mottled coloration. Roundish carapace with three spines on either side. Light and dark striped legs. Introduced from East Asia, this species has become extremely invasive along the Eastern North American coastline. It consumes juvenile mussels and oysters, green crabs, snails, polychaetes, algae, hydroids, barnacles (from Connecticut Sea Grant, list of invasive species of Long Island Sound).

Habitat:

Shoreline in Cedar Point County Park.

Notes:

These little guys were plentiful along the rocky shore in the park (their preferred habitat). I was sad to find out that they were an invasive species.