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"No hairs on front claws, about 1.5"" across carapace. Found in the very low intertidal (-1.3) under cobble. ID as per ""Crabs and Shrimps of the Pacific Coast,' p. 31 (type locality Monterey). Also: http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol317/im/s13/ft_s13_smc_2_22_13/smc_2_22_13-15.html"
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mating?
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mating?
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"Mating. In crack on sea wall next to dock. Male about 4"" across. Closely-related Dungeness crab male carries the female around for up to 2 weeks waiting for her to molt. Maybe this species does too."
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Tidal pool with eel grass (Zostra marina)
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Tidal pool with eel grass (Zostra marina)
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A somewhat chipped carapace.
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A somewhat chipped carapace.
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"About 2"" across. Unlike juvenile Dungeness crabs, Metacarcinus gracilis do not have hair on their posterior legs, and the top joint of their claws is not serrated (though you can't see the claws very well in the photo). Trawl at about 15' depth. Released."
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Came to know of this spectacular creature during Wild Equity's Big Year Competition in 2010.
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Came to know of this spectacular creature during Wild Equity's Big Year Competition in 2010.
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Came to know of this spectacular creature during Wild Equity's Big Year Competition in 2010.