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is typically dark brown, olive, or olive-brown. The underside surface tends to be more vibrant having colors such as red, yellow, or orange. Younger crabs may be lighter olive-brown or reddish-brown. The carapace is a badge-like shape similar to a police officer's badge or shield; hence the secondary
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may be from 34,000 to 84,000 eggs. Eggs change color as they age. They begin bright orange, change to red as they mature, and hatch when they are a grayish purple color. This maturating and development may take anywhere from a month to nearly a year.
307:
Northern kelp crabs are known for their association with kelp and their similar coloration. Their long many-jointed legs have evolved to help them climb bull kelp and also provide help climbing man-made pilings. These crabs are also common in lower
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then pushes its reproductive sac through the crab's molt-softened carapace. This damages or destroys the crab's male reproductive organs and which leads males to exhibit some female characteristics. These parasite-damaged males may become
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used for defense and feeding. The northern kelp crab is part of the spider crab family and exhibits the long many jointed hairless legs associated with the family. Their long legs and shield-like carapace are key identifying factors.
294:
Male crabs tend to be slightly larger than female crabs at about 93 mm (3.7 in) across the carapace. Females tend to be 7.8 cm (3.1 in). Female crabs exhibit a broader back and smaller
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Northern kelp crabs are not attractive for human consumption. They are difficult to purposely catch and bear very little meat. Their chelipeds are large and adept. They have an aggressively strong pinch.
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Adult crabs migrate to waters as deep as 75 m to mate. They join together, feed, then mate. Females may carry eggs during most parts of the year but are rarely seen in south
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443:(rhizocephalan sacculinid barnacle) which exhibits a brown mass extending from the crab's underbelly. Once the crab has been
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Northern kelp crabs are predated by a few different animals in different stages of life. Adults are frequently eaten by
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The northern kelp crab can be differentiated from similar species like the decorator crabs by its two rows of hooked
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with seasonal preferences. In the summer months when algae is prevalent, they eat nearly exclusively algae. They eat
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and produce both eggs and sperm. Parasite-damaged females may have a faster development of mature characteristics.
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name shield-backed crab. Its carapace is curved and smooth, with a slick texture. The front of the crab has a
382:
right behind its rostrum. The northern kelp crab sometimes attaches bits of kelp and seaweed to these hooked
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to store as food for later. The northern kelp crab does not decorate its carapace as other majid crabs do.
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320:. They may also be found under rocks or shelters at extreme low tides within the intertidal zones.
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520:"Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world"
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This crab has a terminal molt which may end up covered with barnacles,
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It is found along the
Pacific Coast of North America from southern
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255:, extending the carapace and is used in feeding. They have large
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Peter K. L. Ng; Danièle Guinot & Peter J. F. Davie (2008).
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is an evolutionary advantage when preferred food is scarce.
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416:of the northern kelp crab within kelp forests. As
327:Female northern kelp crab with broadened carapace.
1055:
471:
437:The northern kelp crab can be parasitized by
566:"Pugettia producta The Northern Kelp Crab"
467:Characteristic shield-like carapace shown.
29:
1069:Crustaceans of the eastern Pacific Ocean
660:"Northern kelp crab • Pugettia producta"
462:
322:
285:
598:"Kelp Crab · University of Puget Sound"
351:. Whereas in the winter, they are more
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480:in May, September, and October. These
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451:one more time. During this molt, the
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664:Biodiversity of the Central Coast
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1074:Crustaceans described in 1840
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412:. Sea otters are significant
684:"Finding kelp crab with Rob"
568:. 2011-05-16. Archived from
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7:
528:Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
472:Reproduction and life cycle
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10:
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945:
735:
440:Heterosaccus californicus
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183:
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39:Scientific classification
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331:Northern kelp crabs are
535:: 1–286. Archived from
290:Male northern kelp crab
217:shield-backed kelp crab
637:inverts.wallawalla.edu
468:
328:
291:
904:Paleobiology Database
716:WoRMS taxon details:
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492:, or bits of algae.
424:) they are eaten by
347:, and some types of
633:"Pugettia producta"
24:Northern kelp crab
947:Epialtus productus
712:Northern Kelp Crab
602:www.pugetsound.edu
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432:by-the-wind sailor
329:
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213:northern kelp crab
194:Epialtus productus
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1023:Open Tree of Life
891:Open Tree of Life
737:Pugettia producta
729:Taxon identifiers
718:Pugettia producta
496:Human consumption
410:staghorn sculpins
281:Sexual dimorphism
208:Pugettia producta
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168:Pugettia producta
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371:. This seasonal
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572:on 2011-05-16
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570:the original
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537:the original
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299:than males.
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272:to northern
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264:Distribution
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149:
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112:Infraorder:
86:Malacostraca
18:
917:SeaLifeBase
852:NatureServe
813:iNaturalist
478:Puget Sound
445:parasitized
353:carnivorous
312:in beds of
238:Description
106:Pleocyemata
1058:Categories
693:2020-03-10
669:2020-03-10
642:2020-03-10
607:2020-03-10
576:2020-03-10
546:2010-11-04
505:References
406:sea otters
373:adaptation
333:herbivores
249:protrusion
242:Its upper
232:Epialtidae
126:Epialtidae
102:Suborder:
76:Arthropoda
962:Q10486073
414:predators
391:Predation
365:bryozoans
361:barnacles
349:red algae
345:sargassum
297:chelipeds
257:chelipeds
251:called a
144:Species:
116:Brachyura
62:Kingdom:
56:Eukaryota
1064:Majoidea
1002:10250101
956:Wikidata
857:2.933528
831:10997319
774:BugGuide
752:Q6495091
746:Wikidata
482:clutches
453:barnacle
420:larvae (
369:hydroids
341:rockweed
318:eelgrass
303:Behavior
244:carapace
185:Synonyms
137:Pugettia
122:Family:
96:Decapoda
72:Phylum:
66:Animalia
52:Domain:
989:2226669
805:2226672
490:limpets
430:or the
418:pelagic
398:cabezon
357:mussels
253:rostrum
227:in the
221:species
219:, is a
178:, 1840)
132:Genus:
92:Order:
82:Class:
1041:452960
1028:482559
935:240780
909:223540
896:482559
883:240780
870:504418
779:354859
766:201399
408:, and
367:, and
274:Mexico
270:Alaska
229:family
1036:WoRMS
1015:98442
997:IRMNG
976:6G254
930:WoRMS
922:26939
844:98436
826:IRMNG
818:49723
792:4QFYV
540:(PDF)
523:(PDF)
422:zoeae
402:gulls
384:setae
380:setae
314:algae
1010:ITIS
984:GBIF
878:OBIS
865:NCBI
839:ITIS
800:GBIF
761:BOLD
449:molt
337:kelp
225:crab
971:CoL
787:CoL
316:or
223:of
215:or
1060::
1038::
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686:.
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651:^
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549:.
174:(
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