''Rochinia crassa'', also known as the inflated spiny crab,
Decapod crustaceans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps: a review through 2005
' Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
The ''Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering zoology published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Linnean Society. The editor-in-chief is Maarten Christenhusz (Linnean Society). ...
, 2005, 145, 445–522, Joel W. Martin and Todd A. Haney is a species of
crab
Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all the ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Epialtidae
Epialtidae is a family of crabs, containing the subfamilies:
* Epialtinae MacLeay, 1838
* Pisinae
Pisinae is a subfamily of crabs in the family Epialtidae, comprising the following genera:
* '' Acanthophrys'' A. Milne-Edwards, 1865
* '' Ana ...
.
Description
''Rochinia crassa'' has a spiny, elongate-triancular carapace. The
rostrum comprises two short, stout spines. The
chelipeds are very long and thin, and in adults can be approximately four times the length of the carpace. The walking legs are also long and slender.
Guide to Shelf Invertebrates, Gulf of Mexico
', Perry and Larsen, 2004
Distribution
This species is found in the western Atlantic including the Gulf of Mexico, and ranges from
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
, Canada in the north,
to Massachusetts and Texas in United States waters. It also occurs from northern Cuba to Colombia and French Guiana.
Habitat
It lives in soft bottoms, in substrates of mud and sand at depths of between 66 and 1,216 metres.
This species does not occur near vents or seep sites.
References
External links
Image of juvenile and adultImage of juvenile specimenImage of adult specimen
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6496967
Majoidea
Crustaceans of the Atlantic Ocean
Crustaceans described in 1879