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Oregonia bifurca Rathbun, 1902
Crab
Family: Majidae

Species account author: Josephine Hart.
Extracted from Crabs and their relatives of British Columbia.

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #44885)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Oregonia bifurca in British Columbia in British Columbia

Species Information

Carapace setose, finely granulate and spiny and wider, anteriorly, than O. gracilis. Short divergent rostral horns. Eyestalk short, not reaching tips of triangular forward pointing post-orbital spines. Chelipeds of male only slightly longer than walking legs; of female slightly shorter. All pereiopods setose.

Size

Carapace: male 33.7 x 22.7 mm, female 29 x 20.6 mm.

Colour

Carapace deep pink with red patches; rostrum and post-orbital spines red. Chelipeds pink and brown with red on inner distal part of palm; fingers brown with red stripe on proximal half of both faces; teeth white. Walking legs brown with red stripes and patches ventrally; claw pale yellow. Antennule and antennae crimson; flagella translucent. Outer maxilliped crimson and brown. Eyestalk pale brown; cornea black.

Habitat


Deep water, green mud, broken shell, grey sand.

Distribution

Range

Sea of Okhotsk, northwestern Pacific Ocean, to off mouth of Columbia River, Washington; 494 to 1463 m.
Distribution In British Columbia

One record off Englefield Bay, Queen Charlotte Islands (53°2’N, 132°51.8’W), at 1204 m.

Comments


The small size and deep-water habitat results in this species being rarely collected or recognized.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)
COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

General References