Cancer irroratus (common name the Atlantic rock crab or peekytoe crab) is a crab in the genus Cancer. It is found from Iceland to South Carolina at depths up to 2,600 ft (790 m), and reaches 133 mm (5.2 in) across the carapace.

Distribution

A molted carapace of Cancer irroratus from Long Beach, New York.

This crab species occurs on the eastern coast of North America, from Iceland to South Carolina.[1] Rock crabs live over a large depth range, from well above the low tide line to as deep as 2,600 feet (790 m).[1] In cold intermate layers

Description

Cancer irroratus has nine marginal teeth on the front edge of the carapace beside each eye,[1] and reaches a carapace width of 5.25 inches (133 mm).[2] These crabs are similar in color to, and overlap in size with, the Jonah crab, Cancer borealis.[2] The two species can indeed be distinguished by the purplish-brown spots on the carapace of C. irroratus (contrasting with the yellow spots of C. borealis), and by the smooth edges to the teeth on the edge of the carapace (denticulate in C. borealis).[2] Males can range up to 8-127mm while females can range up to 113mm. When the crabs molt they usually molt in between the mouths of April to July [3] The two fount claws of the crab are very important because they are the ones that can grab pray as well as holding it while eating it.

Diet

Atlantic Rock crab diet mostly consist of shellfish like worm's clam's muscles sea urchins and even other crabs. But where they get most of the energy from is eating muscles because muscles provide all the crabs with the fatty acids that they need,[4]

Fisheries

The rock crab has recently become a popular culinary item. The name "peekytoe crab" refers to the fact that the legs are "picked" (a Maine colloquialism meaning "curved inward").[5] Until about 1997, they were considered a nuisance species by the lobster industry because they would eat the bait off of lobster traps.[1] But over time Scientist found out are part of a major ecosystem because they play a role in the food web since they have a much larger diet because they are energy recycling meaning that the process of using energy that would normally be wasted. [6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Krista Page (2002). "Cancer irroratus, Atlantic rock crab". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Alice Jane Lippson & Robert L. Lippson (2006). "Deeper, open waters". Life in the Chesapeake Bay (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 258–289. ISBN 978-0-8018-8338-5.
  3. ^ Haefner, Paul A. (August 1976). "Distribution, reproduction and moulting of the rock crab, Cancer irroratus Say , 1917, in the mid-Atlantic Bight". Journal of Natural History. 10 (4): 377–397. Bibcode:1976JNatH..10..377H. doi:10.1080/00222937600770291. ISSN 0022-2933.
  4. ^ Drolet, David; Riley, Cyrena; Robert, Sonia; Estrada, Rafael; Gianasi, Bruno L.; McKindsey, Christopher W. (2022-07-22). "Effect of Aquaculture-Related Diets on the Long-Term Performance and Condition of the Rock Crab, Cancer irroratus". Frontiers in Marine Science. 9. Bibcode:2022FrMaS...965390D. doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.865390. ISSN 2296-7745.
  5. ^ Peggy Trowbridge Filippone. "Peekytoe Crab Information". About.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  6. ^ Hanson, John Mark; Comeau, Michel; Rondeau, Amélie (2014-08-27). "Atlantic Rock Crab, unlike American Lobster, Is Important to Ecosystem Functioning in Northumberland Strait". Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 143 (5): 1266–1279. Bibcode:2014TrAFS.143.1266H. doi:10.1080/00028487.2014.931300. ISSN 0002-8487.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peekytoe_crab
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