Calico Crab

Hepatus epheliticus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Eucarida
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Hepatidae
Genus: Hepatus
Species: epheliticus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hepatus epheliticus: //ˈhɛpətəs ˌɛfɪˈlɪtɪkəs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Hepatus epheliticus by The original uploader was Dawson at English Wikipedia.. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.5 license.

Calico Box Crab (11353808884) by FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Calico Box Crab (11353760305) by FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Hepatus epheliticus (calico box crab) (Sanibel Island, Florida, USA) 2 by James St. John. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Hepatus epheliticus (calico box crab) (Sanibel Island, Florida, USA) (24430271121) by James St. John. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Calico Box Crab (11671212296) by FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

Hepatus epheliticus, or the calico crab, is a small crab species recognized for its distinctive red-spotted carapace and habitat in shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic.

Physical Characteristics

Carapace grows to 3 inches (76 mm) wide, covered in large patches of red color with darker outlines; patterns may vary.

Identification Tips

Look for large red spots with darker outlines on the carapace; size is typically 3 inches across.

Habitat

Shallow waters, often found on sandy and muddy substrates, at depths of up to 46 m (151 ft).

Distribution

Western Atlantic Ocean from Chesapeake Bay to the Dominican Republic, including the Gulf of Mexico and Jamaica.

Life Cycle

Reproduction occurs in summer; females carry fertilized eggs until they hatch, going through five planktonic zoea stages.

Reproduction

Egg-bearing females can be observed during summer.

Ecosystem Role

Often carries the sea anemone Calliactis tricolor on its back; can also lie buried in the sand with eyes exposed.

Evolution

First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1763 as Cancer epheliticus; includes several subjective synonyms.

Misconceptions

Not to be confused with Ovalipes ocellatus, which is a different species.