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Acantholithodes hispidus (Stimpson, 1860)
Spiny Lithode Crab
Family: Lithodidae

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

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #95818)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Acantholithodes hispidus in British Columbia in British Columbia

Species Information

Carapace somewhat pear-shaped; surface flattened and covered with numerous small spines dorsally and larger ones marginally. Chelipeds setose, with many spines both large and small; subequal in length but right usually much stouter than left. Walking legs stout, subequal in length to chelipeds and similarly armed. Abdomen short and broad, calcified anteriorly and bearing may small setose spines. Eyestalk small, cone-shaped and cornea oval.

Size

Carapace: male 62 x 64 mm, female 49 x 50 mm.

Colour

Carapace varying shades of brown with opaque white areas. Spines dark red-brown, orange or white. Chelipeds greenish brown or chocolate with grey-blue bands; spines dark red, orange, white or mottled. Large hand orange with wine red fingers, white teeth and black tips. Walking legs similarly coloured and banded, with dactyl dark red-brown or chocolate; claw black. Eyestalk light brown with dark brown stripes; cornea orange with a black pigment spot.

Habitat


Rocky or muddy areas. Predator of shrimp and often caught in deep-water prawn traps.

Distribution

Range

Off Moorovskoy Bay, Alaska (Albatross Stn. 3319), to Monterey, California; intertidal to 135 m.
Distribution In British Columbia

Recorded mostly from the Strait of Georgia but probably widespread in localities where shrimp are abundant.

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.

Additional Notes

This is a species of King Crab, a group of saltwater crabs thought to be descended from hermit crab ancestors (Wikipedia 2009).

General References