Shore Crab

1. Crustacea
2. Shore Crab

The photos below show the empty shell of a shore crab. The shell is an exact replica of the living crab.

Figure 1,2: Shell of a shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus

By this molt, the size of the carapace of this individual grew from 1.67 cm x 1.51 cm to 1.84 cm x 1.53 cm. Notice that one of the pereopods recovered to its full size. The fresh carapace is soft.

Figure 3: Shore crab after molting

The photos below show the empty eye of the shell and that of the living shore crab.

Figure 4: Empty eye of shore crab shell

Figure 5: Eye of shore crab after molting

Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Chiba, Japan, February 2004