Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Southern Kelp Crab
Taliepus nuttallii
32.8461, -117.279
Field Notes
Description:
Red crab that was found upside down so we flipped it over & took a pic. This crab recently molted making it soft and very venerable to predators. We only got one pic before a wave swept it away.... and got me all wet :) This crab has a "very rounded carapace that has lateral teeth reduced to small bumps and a smooth surface that is not decorated. They reach a maximum length of 3.6 inches for the male and 1.8 inches for the females. They vary in color from yellow-orange to dark purple, to reddish-brown." - Mexfish
Habitat:
Tidepools in La Jolla
Notes:
"They are best known for their habit of camouflaging themselves with bits of algae, sponges, bryozoans, or other animals. These attachments are also believed to provide a defensive mechanism as they change the way the crab feels, smells, and tastes to a predator, with many of the attachments being noxious. They also have the ability to molt their shells to rid themselves of unwanted attachments." - Mexfish This makes this crab Wildlife with Innovative Defenses!
Comments (5)