You are here
Species
Carcinus maenas Leach, 1814
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
The United States government is currently undergoing programs in which to slow the growth of green crab populations fearing a shift in biodiversity in many of the nations coastal regions. Several options are being discussed in which to achieve this. One of which includes introducing a barnacle that can sterilize female green crabs, and the egg predator, Carcinonemertes epialti, to limit the number of green crab offspring being produced.(Washington Dept. 1997)
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcinus_maenas/ |
The shore crab feeds on invertebrates including worms, molluscs and crustaceans Small molluscs and barnacles are taken by young crabs (2). Breeding peaks in summer, and mating can only take place shortly after the female moults; the male finds a female before she is due to moult, and carries her around underneath his body for a number of days (2). After the moult, copulation occurs. The female creates a cavity by burrowing in the sand; she lays the eggs whilst positioned over this cavity, attaches them to her walking legs and carries them around for several months (2). After hatching, the larvae are planktonic for 2-3 years. They then settle as young crabs, and reach maturity after around a year (2).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/common-shore-crab/carcinus-maenas/ |
Primarily intertidal and shallow subtidal areas, 0-60 m depth, rarely to 200 m, common under rocks and algae, tide pools, marshes and seagrass beds, found in low to full salinity areas.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License |
Source | http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=107381 |
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Carcinus+maenas |
The green crab resides among tidal marshes, sandflats, and coasts with a rocky terrain. They tend to stay around these areas for protection from predators, and to be close to a readily available food supply.(Holden 1997, Deegan, et al 1999)
Aquatic Biomes: coastal
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Carcinus_maenas/ |
Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Carcinus+maenas |
Depth range based on 1752 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 63 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): -3 - 113
Temperature range (°C): 8.938 - 12.348
Nitrate (umol/L): 2.283 - 16.868
Salinity (PPS): 22.343 - 35.363
Oxygen (ml/l): 6.069 - 7.118
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.312 - 0.890
Silicate (umol/l): 2.147 - 11.419
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): -3 - 113
Temperature range (°C): 8.938 - 12.348
Nitrate (umol/L): 2.283 - 16.868
Salinity (PPS): 22.343 - 35.363
Oxygen (ml/l): 6.069 - 7.118
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.312 - 0.890
Silicate (umol/l): 2.147 - 11.419
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
License | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Ocean Biogeographic Information System |
Source | http://www.iobis.org/mapper/?taxon_id=416842 |
Common and widespread (2).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/common-shore-crab/carcinus-maenas/ |
Carcinus maenas is found on all types of shore, from high water to depths of 60 m in the sublittoral, but it is predominantly a shore and shallow water species. It tolerates a wide range of salinities and is especially abundant in estuaries and salt marshes.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1998-2011, The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
Source | http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2885 |
Not currently threatened.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/common-shore-crab/carcinus-maenas/ |