View Full Version : Crab ID ?
Found this strange looking crab at Nest Ends Reef last month. :confused: The photo was v poor quality but was all I could snap off on the hoof before it scampered,:( I have never seen one of these before anyone know what it is, I recon its some sort of spider/sponge collecting crab? Whish I had got a better shot.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h39/ranchuolddog/PA310068edit.jpg
Dive Tramp
28-11-07, 21:37
I'll find it's name later, Olddog, but it's a spider crab of sorts, there are tiny ones that do gather bits and pieces of detritus (crap floating about) to disguise and camoflage themselves. Usually seen to be about 1" across and upwards in size, the largest I've seen so far was about 4" across. Very often they are covered in bits of leaves, small gravel, and sponges tend to find a home on them too. A bit like the sponges you will find on the top shells of Queen Scallops.
Largest file ever then olddog? Here's another crab to id - it's a crap picture, sorry - but the crab was out at night in the maldives. Looks a bit like a horseshoe crab, but not quite!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/BillBusRammer/DSC03188.jpg
Peter I recon you found the worlds only living fossil trilobite:D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilobite
;) ;) You will be gittin yer name in the National Geographic;) ;)
Peter I recon you found the worlds only living fossil trilobite:D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilobite
;) ;) You will be gittin yer name in the National Geographic;) ;)
a species of trilobite were found off the west coast of south africa, location kept secret.
Yeah, picture of Trilobite in next weeks National Enquirer (don't think Geographic will take me seriously) and $50,000 cheque winging it's way to me! :rolleyes:
a species of trilobite were found off the west coast of south africa, location kept secret.
That can't be true, I know where the west coast of south africa is - the clue's in the name!
Yeah, picture of Trilobite in next weeks National Enquirer (don't think Geographic will take me seriously) and $50,000 cheque winging it's way to me! :rolleyes:
Peter to make big money yer ganna have to go back with a Sarsons pickle jar and bring a real one mule style to flog on e-bay.
P.S. Make sure it's well pickled and the lids pointing doonowa. If it gets oot mid flight it will be like the scene from Alien.:eek:
Dive Tramp
29-11-07, 00:51
Ok, olddog's crab, if it's carapace is about 2-3cm long and 2.5cm wide, and light brown to grey in colour with reddish spots, then its a Scorpion Spider crab, Inachus dorsettensis.
Ok, olddog's crab, if it's carapace is about 2-3cm long and 2.5cm wide, and light brown to grey in colour with reddish spots, then its a Scorpion Spider crab, Inachus dorsettensis.
Thanks for the ID on the crab Dive tramp. Is it a deep water species that shows up when the water cools? I have been diving for years abroad but I have only been diving for about 14 months in UK waters.
I am starting to see the cycle of winter and summer creatures showing up at different seasons. Folk that only dive summer months must miss some interesting species. I have seen a lot since the end of summer that I have never encountered before.:)