Western-atlantic

Guides

Achelous spinimanus
Blotched Swimming Crab
Achelous spinimanus is a swimming crab native to the Western Atlantic, ranging from the USA to Brazil. It inhabits coastal marine environments from shallow waters to 90 m depth, with distinct depth preferences between life stages: juveniles occur at 5–35 m while adults are most abundant at 25 m and range to 40 m. The species exhibits continuous year-round reproduction with ovigerous females present in all seasons, and shows seasonal migration patterns in response to water temperature and salinity changes. It is an emerging fishery resource in Brazil, where it has become a target species following declines in more traditional catches.
swimming-crab Portunidae Western-Atlantic fishery-resource continuous-reproduction depth-segregation Brazil benthic omnivorous sit-and-wait-predator
Armases
square-back American marsh crabs
Armases is a genus of sesarmid crabs comprising approximately 13 described species distributed across tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the Americas. These semi-terrestrial crabs inhabit salt marshes, mangroves, and estuarine environments, with some species exhibiting notable movement between marine and terrestrial habitats. Several species have been extensively studied for their larval development, metabolic ecology, and role in ecosystem energy transfer. The genus includes both species with larval export strategies to continental shelves and those breeding in supratidal rock pools.
crustacean crab sesarmid marsh-crab semi-terrestrial estuarine mangrove salt-marsh larval-export ecosystem-engineer bioindicator neotropical western-Atlantic
Armases cinereum
squareback marsh crab, wharf crab
Armases cinereum is a small, dark brown crab native to Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. It inhabits intertidal zones from salt marshes to mangrove swamps, often found under rocks and debris. The species is highly omnivorous, consuming detritus, plant material, and small invertebrates. It is notable for extensive mobility between marsh and upland habitats, with females exhibiting wider ranging movements that may transport energy between ecosystems.
crab marsh mangrove omnivore intertidal coastal western-atlantic
Calappa flammea
Flame Streaked Box Crab
Calappa flammea is a marine crab species in the family Calappidae, commonly known as the Flame Streaked Box Crab. It is distributed in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The species was first described by Herbst in 1794 as Cancer flammeus.
crustacean marine decapod box-crab Western-Atlantic
Clibanarius vittatus
Thinstripe Hermit Crab, Striped-legged Hermit Crab
Clibanarius vittatus is a marine hermit crab in the family Diogenidae, commonly known as the thinstripe or striped-legged hermit crab. It inhabits shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The species exhibits distinctive longitudinal stripes on its walking legs and occupies empty gastropod shells for protection. Research has documented complex behaviors including sex-specific shell switching patterns during reproduction, risk-sensitive responses to predation threats, and size-dependent aggressive interactions.
hermit-crab marine-invertebrate shell-switching risk-sensitive-behavior environmental-toxicology-model western-Atlantic reproduction-predation-tradeoff aggressive-behavior cryptic-species-complex
Emerita talpoida
Atlantic mole crab, Atlantic sand crab
Emerita talpoida is a mole crab in the family Hippidae, endemic to the western Atlantic Ocean. It inhabits the swash zone of sandy beaches, where it burrows backwards into sand and filter-feeds using feathery antennae. The species exhibits a circatidal rhythm in activity with a ~12.4 hour period, with smaller crabs distributed higher intertidally than larger ones. Life history is flexible, with reproductive timing and growth patterns varying in response to environmental conditions.
crustacean decapod mole-crab filter-feeder intertidal circatidal-rhythm bioindicator western-Atlantic
Euceramus praelongus
Euceramus praelongus is a species of porcelain crab in the family Porcellanidae, described by Stimpson in 1860. It belongs to the infraorder Anomura, which includes hermit crabs and related groups. The species is known from limited records in the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Available information is sparse, with only nine observations documented on iNaturalist.
marine crustacean porcelain-crab western-Atlantic data-deficient
Hepatus epheliticus
Dolly Varden Crab, calico crab, calico box crab, Gulf calico crab
Hepatus epheliticus is a small crab species reaching 76 mm in carapace width, distinguished by its distinctive red-spotted coloration. It inhabits shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean from Chesapeake Bay to the Dominican Republic, including the entire Gulf of Mexico. The species is notable for its association with the sea anemone Calliactis tricolor, which it frequently carries on its carapace.
marine benthic burrowing commensalism western-Atlantic
Leptuca thayeri
Atlantic mangrove fiddler crab, mangrove fiddler
Leptuca thayeri is a true crab in the family Ocypodidae, commonly known as the Atlantic mangrove fiddler crab. Formerly classified in the genus Uca, it was moved to Leptuca in 2016 based on phylogenetic revisions. The species inhabits mangrove sediments along the Western Atlantic coast, where it constructs burrows and influences sediment structure through bioturbation. Males possess one greatly enlarged claw used for display and combat. The species exhibits a resource-free mating system, an unusual reproductive strategy among fiddler crabs.
fiddler-crab mangrove bioturbation behavioral-convergence ecosystem-engineer Western-Atlantic
Libinia
Libinia is a genus of spider crabs (family Epialtidae) comprising twelve extant species. These crabs are characterized by their symbiotic associations, particularly during juvenile stages, and distinctive decorating behaviors where they attach materials to their carapaces. Several species have been extensively studied for their reproductive biology, neurophysiology, and ecological interactions along western Atlantic coasts.
spider-crab decorating-behavior symbiosis jellyfish-association mate-guarding western-Atlantic
Libinia emarginata
portly spider crab, common spider crab, nine-spined spider crab
Libinia emarginata is a heavily calcified spider crab native to the western Atlantic coast of North America. It is characterized by its triangular carapace, khaki coloration, and distinctive spiny appearance. The species exhibits unusual forward-walking locomotion rather than the typical sideways movement of most crabs. As a decorator crab, it frequently covers itself with debris and small invertebrates for camouflage.
marine benthic decorator-crab forward-walking western-Atlantic
Menippe mercenaria
Florida Stone Crab
Menippe mercenaria is a commercially harvested brachyuran crab native to the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The species inhabits coastal marine environments including salt marshes and nearshore hard-bottom habitats. Research has documented sensitivity to reduced seawater pH, with acidic conditions elevating stress and reducing foraging activity. Larvae exhibit vertical swimming behavior in the water column. The species is known for frequent grooming behavior using third maxillipeds to maintain gill function.
commercially-harvested ocean-acidification-sensitivity grooming-behavior western-Atlantic
Ovalipes ocellatus
Lady Crab, Ocellated Crab, Calico Crab, Leopard Crab, Atlantic Leopard Crab
Ovalipes ocellatus, commonly known as the Lady Crab, is a medium-sized crab species native to the western Atlantic coast of North America. The species is distinguished by its yellow-grey to light purplish carapace adorned with distinctive leopard-like clusters of purple spots, which provide limited iridescence for signaling. It is primarily nocturnal and often buries itself in sandy substrates. The species has been described as notably aggressive toward humans, with documented instances of pinching waders.
crab decapod marine western-Atlantic nocturnal burrowing aggressive
Pachygrapsus transversus
Mottled Shore Crab
A small to medium-sized shore crab native to the western Atlantic, ranging from the eastern United States through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. The species inhabits rocky and hard substrates in intertidal zones, where it is commonly found in crevices and under rocks. Reproductive studies indicate it breeds in the Brazilian temperate zone, with specific population dynamics documented in that region. The species serves as a host for multiple parasites including the bopyrid isopod Leidya bimini and the rhizocephalan barnacle Sacculina carcini.
shore-crab intertidal western-Atlantic parasite-host Grapsidae Brachyura decapod crustacean
Pagurus acadianus
Acadian hermit crab
Pagurus acadianus is a marine hermit crab species in the family Paguridae, first described by J.E. Benedict in 1901 from specimens in the western Atlantic. It is distinguished from the closely related Pagurus bernhardus by morphological features including larger eyestalks, shorter chelae fingers, and sharper chelipeds. The species inhabits rocky intertidal zones and exhibits seasonal population fluctuations, with peak abundance in June and reduced activity from November through March. It has been documented as the most abundant hermit crab in some Maine localities, though 95.4% of museum records represent preserved specimens rather than living observations.
marine intertidal detritivore shell-dwelling western-Atlantic competition seasonal-abundance invasive-species-vulnerability parasite-host fungal-disease-susceptibility
Pagurus annulipes
Brown Banded Hermit
Pagurus annulipes is a hermit crab species in the family Paguridae, commonly known as the brown banded hermit. It inhabits the western Atlantic Ocean and is notable as the only hermit crab with distinctly banded legs on the northeastern United States coast. This species occupies empty gastropod shells for protection, typical of hermit crab behavior.
hermit-crab western-Atlantic banded-legs intertidal marine
Palaemon pugio
daggerblade grass shrimp
Palaemon pugio, commonly known as the daggerblade grass shrimp, is a small, transparent caridean shrimp native to estuarine and tidal marsh habitats of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Adults reach approximately 5 cm in length and exhibit yellow coloration with brownish spots. This species serves as an important ecological component in salt marsh food webs, accounting for a substantial portion of nekton biomass and functioning as prey for commercially important fish species. The species has become a standard test organism in toxicological research due to its sensitivity to environmental pollutants.
estuarine salt-marsh toxicology-test-organism zooplankton-feeder western-Atlantic
Palaemon vulgaris
Marsh Grass Shrimp, Common American Prawn, Common Grass Shrimp, Marsh Shrimp
Palaemon vulgaris is a small, transparent caridean shrimp native to the western Atlantic Ocean. Adults reach less than 5 cm in length and display distinctive orange pigmentation on the eyestalks. The species has been studied for its specialized swimming mechanics, employing metachronal beating of pleopods and drag-reducing mechanisms during locomotion. It occupies coastal and estuarine habitats from Cape Cod Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.
crustacean shrimp western-Atlantic transparent swimming-mechanics metachronal-swimming drag-reduction estuarine Palaemonidae Caridea Decapoda Malacostraca Arthropoda Palaemon Palaemonetes-vulgaris Say-1818 Cape-Cod-Bay Gulf-of-Mexico eyestalk-pigmentation pleopod hydrodynamics appendage-flexibility particle-image-velocimetry locomotion marine-biology invertebrate-zoology aquatic-arthropod coastal-species marsh-shrimp grass-shrimp common-American-prawn common-grass-shrimp marsh-grass-shrimp small-crustacean translucent-body camouflage swimming-appendages pleopodal-swimming crustacean-locomotion biomechanics fluid-dynamics drag-reduction-mechanisms asymmetric-flexibility appendage-grouping return-stroke power-stroke wake-reduction thrust-generation profile-area-modulation phase-lag appendage-wave swimming-efficiency aquatic-maneuverability hydrodynamic-optimization caridean-shrimp palaemonid-shrimp marine-invertebrate estuarine-invertebrate Atlantic-coast North-American-shrimp western-Atlantic-shrimp coastal-marine-biology invertebrate-swimming crustacean-biomechanics decapod-locomotion malacostracan-swimming arthropod-hydrodynamics translucent-marine-animal small-decapod marine-transparency eyestalk-coloration orange-pigmentation eyestalk-morphology visual-system crustacean-vision transparent-animal crypsis camouflage-adaptation predator-avoidance visual-ecology marine-ecology coastal-ecology estuarine-ecology benthic-pelagic nektonic-shrimp planktonic-stages benthic-adult habitat-utilization ecosystem-component food-web prey-species foraging-behavior sensory-biology mechanoreception chemoreception aquatic-sensory-systems neurobiology motor-control swimming-coordination appendage-coordination rhythmic-movement neuromuscular-control biological-fluid-mechanics low-Reynolds-number-swimming viscous-swimming intermediate-Reynolds-number unsteady-flows vortex-dynamics wake-structure thrust-production propulsive-efficiency energy-economy locomotor-performance evolutionary-biomechanics functional-morphology comparative-physiology experimental-biology laboratory-studies field-observations natural-history taxonomic-history nomenclatural-change Palaemonetes-to-Palaemon genus-revision systematics phylogenetics molecular-data morphological-data integrated-taxonomy species-delimitation cryptic-species morphological-similarity genetic-differentiation population-structure biogeography dispersal larval-transport ocean-currents habitat-connectivity marine-biogeography provincialism endemism range-distribution latitudinal-gradient depth-distribution salinity-tolerance euryhaline stenohaline osmoregulation physiological-ecology environmental-tolerance temperature-tolerance thermal-biology seasonal-variation reproductive-seasonality breeding-biology mating-behavior reproductive-output fecundity egg-production larval-development developmental-biology life-history growth-rate longevity survivorship population-dynamics demography abundance density 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Panopeus
mud crabs
Panopeus is a genus of mud crabs in the family Panopeidae, distributed primarily in intertidal and estuarine environments of the Western Atlantic. Species within this genus exhibit sexual size dimorphism, with males typically larger than females, and show specialized habitat use patterns including vertical stratification within reef structures. Some species demonstrate extreme male-biased sexual size dimorphism driven by sexual antagonistic coevolution and coercive mating systems. Members of this genus are ecosystem engineers in mangrove and estuarine habitats, influencing sediment structure and energy flow.
Brachyura Panopeidae mud-crab intertidal estuarine oyster-reef sexual-dimorphism habitat-partitioning Western-Atlantic mangrove ecosystem-engineer
Panopeus lacustris
knot-fingered mud crab
Panopeus lacustris, commonly known as the knot-fingered mud crab, is a small true crab (infraorder Brachyura) in the family Panopeidae. It is distinguished by unequal-sized chelae, with the larger claw being exceptionally broad, knobbly, and bearing teeth in the molar area with an immobile finger. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with males typically larger than females. It is native to the subtropical western Atlantic but has been introduced to Hawaii and the Pacific coast of California. The species serves as a host for the parasitic barnacle Loxothylacus panopaei, which manipulates crab behavior and causes functional castration.
brachyura decapoda panopeidae mud-crab parasite-host introduced-species western-Atlantic sexual-dimorphism handedness Loxothylacus
Persephona mediterranea
Mottled Purse Crab
Persephona mediterranea, commonly known as the mottled purse crab, is a true crab species in the family Leucosiidae. Despite its specific epithet 'mediterranea', it is found in the western Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean Sea. The species was first described by Herbst in 1794 under the basionym Cancer mediterraneus. It belongs to a family known for rounded or purse-like carapaces.
Leucosiidae purse-crab western-Atlantic true-crab
Pinnixa chaetopterana
tube pea crab
Pinnixa chaetopterana is a small, soft-bodied pea crab that lives symbiotically within the tubes of polychaete worms, primarily Chaetopterus variopedatus. It is a facultative commensal, occasionally free-living or associating with alternative hosts such as Amphitrite ornata. The species exhibits strong host fidelity and can distinguish conspecifics from heterospecifics. It ranges from Massachusetts to Uruguay along the western Atlantic, including Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico.
commensal symbiosis polychaete-association pea-crab western-Atlantic facultative-symbiont carcinonemertid-parasite host-fidelity conspecific-recognition zoeal-larvae tube-dwelling marine-invertebrate brachyuran-crab pinnotherid Chaetopterus zooplankton-larva mutual-intolerance polychaete-crab nemertean-parasite synchronous-reproduction-with-parasite caltrop-shaped-carapace branchial-chamber-parasite pleopod-egg-attachment host-tube-modification estuarine coastal-marine depth-to-60m Massachusetts-to-Brazil Gulf-of-Mexico Florida North-Carolina New-Jersey Uruguay Stimpson-1860 Tubicolixa-synonym soft-bodied-crab wider-than-long-carapace five-zoeal-stages dorsal-rostral-lateral-spines abdominal-somite-knobs wing-like-knobs median-notch-telson Amphitrite-ornata-alternative-host posterior-positioning-behavior tube-aperture-biting plankton-feeding predator-refuge Carcinonemertes-pinnotheridophila ribbon-worm-parasite synchronous-egg-development host-parasite-egg-competition branchial-exoskeleton-attachment excurrent-canal-opening female-1-2-nemerteans male-nemerteans-associated medial-sheath-attachment sternum-opening nemertean-egg-sacs crab-egg-hairs facultative-free-living obligate-vs-facultate-commensalism host-specificity symbiont-recognition heterospecific-avoidance limb-tearing-aggression co-occurrence-exclusion morphological-crypsis adult-identification-difficulty larval-dispersal settlement-behavior tube-worm-crab parchment-tube-inhabitant ventilated-tube-dwelling water-pumping-utilization host-turning-response symbiont-positioning entry-exit-hole-creation behavioral-plasticity ecological-flexibility host-range-expansion alternative-host-use geographic-range depth-range Atlantic-coast-distribution western-hemisphere-endemic American-Atlantic-fauna benthic-crustacean infaunal-associate sediment-tube-dweller marine-symbiosis decapod-brachyuran eubrachyuran thoracotreme pinnotheroid pinnixine tubicolixine species-complex-member cryptic-species-candidate morphological-similarity taxonomic-revision-needed type-locality-unknown 1860-description Stimpson's-pea-crab historical-taxonomy modern-synonymy Catalogue-of-Life-synonym GBIF-Tubicolixa-match genus-transfer-candidate subgeneric-classification infraspecific-variation sexual-dimorphism-unknown male-gonopod-diagnostic female-pleopod-brooding ovigerous-female-parasite-load nemertean-prevalence-unknown incidence-data-limited biological-relationship-documentation symbiont-life-history-synchronization reproductive-timing-overlap egg-development-coordination hatching-synchrony larval-release-coordination population-dynamics-unknown demography-unstudied growth-rate-unknown longevity-unknown mortality-factors-unknown predation-pressure predator-avoidance tube-refuge-value structural-habitat-modification engineering-behavior niche-construction host-damage tube-wall-perforation host-fitness-effects-unknown commensalism-cost-benefit mutualism-possibility parasitism-gradient symbiosis-continuum interaction-outcome-variability environmental-context-dependency host-quality-variation host-size-correlation crab-size-host-size-relationship settlement-cue-unknown larval-settlement-behavior metamorphosis-trigger competency-period pre-settlement-swimming post-settlement-adaptation host-recognition-mechanism chemical-cue-use tactile-cue-use host-tube-chemistry-detection conspecific-chemical-detection heterospecific-chemical-detection aggression-trigger territorial-behavior resource-defense host-monopolization pair-formation mating-system-unknown sex-ratio-unknown operational-sex-ratio mate-guarding-unknown sperm-competition-unknown fertilization-mode internal-fertilization egg-brooding-duration embryonic-development-time larval-development-mode planktotrophic-larvae lecithotrophy-unknown zoeal-feeding zoeal-duration megalopa-stage-unknown settlement-competence juvenile-adaptation host-tube-colonization subadult-behavior size-at-maturity-unknown molting-frequency-unknown ecdysis-in-host-tube exuvia-disposal grooming-behavior-unknown feeding-mechanism suspension-feeding filter-feeding plankton-capture host-current-use respiratory-current-exploitation oxygen-availability hypoxia-tolerance salinity-tolerance temperature-range-unknown physiological-ecology-studied oxygen-consumption-unknown metabolic-rate-unknown energetics-unknown growth-efficiency-unknown reproductive-effort-unknown fecundity-unknown egg-size-unknown offspring-size-number-tradeoff parental-investment maternal-care brooding-cost parasite-load-cost nemertean-reproduction-facilitation host-egg-loss parasite-egg-competition hatching-success-reduction fitness-consequence-unknown population-level-impact-unknown community-role-unknown trophic-position-unknown energy-flow-contribution nutrient-cycling-role sediment-interaction bioturbation-unknown ecosystem-engineering-secondary habitat-complexity-contribution biodiversity-association species-interaction-network food-web-position predator-unknown prey-unknown diet-breadth trophic-level omnivory-unknown carnivory-unknown detritivory-unknown suspension-feeding-confirmed host-food-waste-use pseudofeces-consumption-unknown host-mucus-use host-tissue-consumption-unknown parasitism-unknown kleptoparasitism-unknown thievery-unknown aggression-context intraspecific-aggression interspecific-aggression limb-autotomy regeneration-unknown wound-healing stress-response handling-response laboratory-maintenance collection-method preservation-effect museum-specimen-quality type-specimen-location original-description-quality subsequent-redescriptions taxonomic-stability nomenclatural-acts priority-rules homonymy-check synonymy-list-completeness distribution-record-verification occurrence-data-quality range-boundary-uncertainty depth-record-accuracy habitat-description-specificity host-record-verification association-record-quality symbiosis-documentation-standard natural-history-completeness research-priority-areas conservation-status-unknown IUCN-evaluation-needed population-trend-unknown threat-assessment habitat-vulnerability climate-sensitivity range-shift-potential phenology-change host-phenology-dependency phenological-mismatch-risk evolutionary-history-unknown phylogenetic-position sister-species-unknown species-group-membership genetic-differentiation cryptic-diversity-potential barcode-library-coverage genome-resources transcriptome-unknown proteome-unknown metabolome-unknown developmental-genetics-unknown symbiosis-genetics-unknown host-recognition-gene-unknown immune-response-unknown parasite-resistance-unknown coevolution-history phylogeography-unknown population-structure-unknown gene-flow-unknown dispersal-limitation isolation-by-distance local-adaptation-unknown phenotypic-plasticity morphological-variation environmental-gradient-response phenotypic-cline genotype-environment-interaction evolutionary-potential adaptive-capacity resilience-unknown extinction-risk-assessment-needed
Polyonyx gibbesi
eastern tube crab
Polyonyx gibbesi, commonly known as the eastern tube crab, is a porcelain crab in the family Porcellanidae. It is an obligate commensal species that inhabits the tubes of polychaete worms, particularly Chaetopterus species. The species has been studied for its physiological ecology, showing lower thermal tolerance compared to some co-occurring commensal crabs. It occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and Lesser Antilles.
commensal porcelain-crab benthic western-Atlantic polychaete-associate
Portunus sayi
Sargassum Swimming Crab
Portunus sayi is a pelagic swimming crab endemic to floating Sargassum seaweed mats in the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It exhibits specialized adaptations for swimming, including paddle-shaped fourth legs that enable rapid sideways movement. The species relies on chemical, visual, and tactile cues to locate and select host Sargassum patches, demonstrating strong host fidelity. Recent records from the Amazon continental shelf represent the northernmost observation in Brazilian waters, expanding its known range.
Portunidae swimming-crab pelagic Sargassum symbiosis chemoreception western-Atlantic Caribbean bycatch Great-Amazon-Reef-System
Stenorhynchus seticornis
Yellowline Arrow Crab, Arrow Crab
Stenorhynchus seticornis is a marine crab commonly known as the yellowline arrow crab. It inhabits shallow subtidal zones of the western Atlantic Ocean, from North Carolina to Brazil. The species is recognized by its triangular body, elongated pointed rostrum, and long thin legs. It is nocturnal, territorial, and frequently associated with sea anemones, particularly Lebrunia danae.
marine nocturnal coral-reef commensal aquarium-trade western-Atlantic