Chionoecetes bairdi   (Tanner Crab)

Photo of Chionoecetes bairdi  by Aaron Baldwin

© Aaron Baldwin (Photo ID #2114)

Photographer's Submitted Details

Photo Location Sitka Sound, Alaska
Photographer Aaron Baldwin
Habitat On mud and sand, low intertidal to deep subtidal
Photo Date
Upload Date October 19, 2007
Elevation (m)
Latitude
Longitude
Photo ID # 2114
Comments While juveniles are occasionally found in the lowest intertidal zone, adults tend to be in fairly deep water. In the Bering sea a very similar species, C. opilio (snow crab) replaces C. bairdi. The easiest way to distinguish the two where habitats overlap is that C. bairdi has red eyes while C. opilio has green eyes (there are other more important differences as well). Both of these species lack the groove on the carapace seen in other Chionoecetes species.