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Cancer borealis
Jonah crab
Cancer borealis, commonly known as the Jonah crab, is a marine brachyuran crab native to the western Atlantic Ocean. It inhabits waters from Newfoundland to Florida, primarily in rocky marine environments. The species possesses a rounded, rough-edged carapace with small light spots and robust claws with dark brown-black tips. Males reach larger sizes than females, with maximum carapace widths of 222 mm versus approximately 150 mm. The Jonah crab has been extensively studied as a model organism for neurophysiology, particularly for its stomatogastric nervous system, which has contributed to understanding neural circuit function and neuromuscular control.
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