E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Scyra acutifrons Dana, 1851
Sharp-Nosed Crab
Family: Majidae

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

© Aaron Baldwin  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #17343)

E-Fauna BC Static Map
Distribution of Scyra acutifrons in British Columbia
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Species Information

Carapace somewhat triangular and thick with grooves, knobs and lumps symmetrically arranged. Rostrum of two horns, wide and flattened with divergent tips. Hooked setae on carapace, seldom used for decoration, but the surface is often encrusted by a growth of bryozoa, hydroids and sponges. Chelipeds large in mature male with numerous blunt knobs on ischium, merus and carpus, in rows on margins and scattered in between. Hand elongate, with sharp dorsal and ventral ridges; fingers slender with gape; dactyl with small teeth distally and 1 large tooth medially. Walking legs short and relatively stout, with short, stiff, club-shaped setae; dactyl about ½ the length of propodus. Abdomen of male narrow with 3 flat knobs per segment; telson smooth and triangular. Eyes small. Antennae short, flat and hidden under rostrum.

Size

Carapace: male 55 x 45 mm, female 41.2 x 30 mm.

Colour

Often masked by encrusting growths. Carapace usually bluish white with blue-tipped, brown granules. A mature male may be deep red, brown or purple-brown. Chelipeds brown with blue or red granules; palm brown to orange; fingers orange red or pink; teeth white. Walking legs irregularly banded with dark and light brown; dactyl reddish; claw yellow. Antennal peduncle striped with light and dark brown, flagella orange. Antennal peduncle white and flagellum red. Eyestalk grey; cornea opalescent pink with black pigment spot.

Habitat


Rocky shores and loose rocks.

Distribution

Range

Japan; Kodiak, Alaska, to San Carlos Point, Mexico; intertidal to 220 m.
Distribution In British Columbia

Common.

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 Photo Sources

General References


Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2025-02-16 4:53:58 PM]
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