Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific Southwest): Brown rock crab, red rock crab, and yellow crab
- TENERA Environmental, Berkeley, CA (USA)
- South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Dept., Charleston, SC (USA)
Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, morphology, distribution, life history, habitats, and environmental requirements of coastal species of fishes and aquatic invertebrates. They are designed to assist in environmental impact assessment. Rock crab'' is the common name designating three similar species of edible crabs: brown rock crab (Cancer antennarius), red rock crab (C. productus), and yellow crab (C. anthonyi). The three species co-occur in shallow coastal waters throughout the Pacific Southwest region. The yellow crab is most common in southern California on sand substrate, and the red rock crab in northernmost areas on rock or gravel substrates; the brown rock crab occurs on rock or sand substrates in all areas. Rock crabs are sought commercially to fill an increasing market demand for whole crabs that approached 2 million pounds annually in 1986. Most of the catch comes from the region of Morro Bay south to Los Angeles, including the Channel Islands. Egg-bearing females are commonly found during winter, although they may occur throughout the year.Rock crabs go through five zoeal stages and one megalopal stage during a larval period that generally requires 90--120 days. Metamorphosis and settlement of the first crab stage is on either sand or rock, and crabs may reach maturity within 1--2 years. All three species are predators on a variety of shelled mollusks, but are also considered scavengers. They are a major food for many commercially and recreationally important fishes, as well as for the threatened southern sea otter, Enhydra lutris. 63 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- TENERA Environmental, Berkeley, CA (USA); South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Dept., Charleston, SC (USA); National Wetlands Research Center, Slidell, LA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOD; DOI
- OSTI ID:
- 7046203
- Report Number(s):
- BR-82(11.117); TR-EL-82-4/82(11.117); ON: TI90013850
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic): Atlantic marsh fiddler
Age and growth of early‐life‐stage Atlantic tarpon (
Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CRABS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ANIMAL GROWTH
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
COASTAL WATERS
FISHERIES
INVERTEBRATES
LIFE CYCLE
MORPHOLOGY
POPULATION DYNAMICS
TAXONOMY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGY
CRUSTACEANS
DECAPODS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
GROWTH
SURFACE WATERS
540310* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)
550100 - Behavioral Biology