Elassochirus tenuimanus (Dana,
1851)
Common name(s): Widehand
hermit crab
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Synonyms:
Bernhardus tenuimanus,
Eupagurus tenuimanus, Pagurus tenuimanus |
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Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Superorder Eucarida
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocyemata
Infraorder
Anomura
Superfamily Paguroidea
Family
Paguridae |
Elassochirus tenuimanus from
12 m
depth, Coffin Rocks, Bowman
Bay. |
(Photo by: Dave
Cowles,
July 2005) |
Description:
In this large, mostly subtidal
hermit crab, the right chela
is larger than the left, and the carpus
and propodus
of the right chela are very wide and flattened. The carpus of the right
cheliped
is wider than it is long. There are spines on the dorsal
surface
of the claws. The first and 2nd walking legs have 3 dark
stripes
on the dorsal surface and a white stripe on the medial surface of the carpus,
and rows of red spots on the propodus
and dactyl
(photo). The
cornea of the eye is inflated.
Color: orange, brown, and white, with a purplish-blue on the
upper
walking legs. Antennae are orange-brown. Carapace
length to
about 4.2 cm.
How to Distinguish
from
Similar Species: Elassochirus
is the only hermit crab genus in this area has a large right cheliped
that
has a carpus that is wider than long. The other Elassochirus
species,
such as E. cavimanus and E. gilli,
have a propodus to the
right cheliped that is narrower than the carpus.
Geographical Range:
Bering sea and
Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Washington; northwestern Pacific
Depth Range:
Intertidal (rarely) to
388 m
Habitat:
Around rocks, mud, sand,
or shell bottoms, but usually near rocks
Biology/Natural
History:
This species
uses the large right claw to block the entrance to the shell when the
animal
retreats inside (photo).
When walking,
the claw is bent beneath the body. The hydroid Hydractina
milleri
often lives on the shells this hermit crab lives in.
Ovigerous females
in Washington can be found from August to May. Larvae hatch
March
to May. Planktonic stages last several months.
References:
Dichotomous Keys:
Coffin,
1952 (as Pagurus tenuimanus)
Hart,
1982
Kozloff
1987, 1996
General References:
Gotshall,
1994
Harbo,
1999
Jensen,
1995
O'Clair
and O'Clair, 1998
Scientific
Articles:
Web sites:
General Notes and
Observations: Locations, abundances,
unusual behaviors:
The large, flattened right chela is used to seal the entrance of the
shell when the animal withdraws inside. Photo by Dave Cowles,
July
2005
In this side view the color pattern on the walking legs can be
seen:
The propodus
and dactyl
have rows of red spots. The carpus
has red stripes. The merus
has large areas of purplish-blue.
This individual is scavenging in an Enteroctopus
dofleini midden. Underwater photo by Jim
Nestler, July 2005
Another individual photographed underwater by Kirt Onthank, July
2007.
It is living in a leafy hornmouth shell.
The following views of an individual out of its
shell are for an individual of 9 mm carapace(rather, thorax) length
trawled from 135 m depth in the San Juan Channel, 2018
Dorsal view
Closeup of the deep eyescale furrows
Right side.
This
is a photo of the left side of the rear thorax and abdomen of an
individual out of its shell, showing the small legs 4-5. Photo by Dave
Cowles, July 2018
Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2005): Created original page
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