Crustacian Identification...Help!?

Chevayea · Post by **Chevayea** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:54 pm

Okay, i was at Octopus Hole on Saturday and there were these little crustacians everywhere. Can anyone identify them? They looked like Tuna Crabs (Pleuroncodes planipes) but i can't find any indication of those living this far North. Help???

Pez7378 · Post by **Pez7378** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:01 am

Looks like it's a squat lobster aka galatheid crab or pinch bug. Up to 5" long ranging from Alaska to Mexico.

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:31 am

Yup ... squat lobster. Funny lookin' little things ... perpetually "smiling" ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:56 am

The ubiquitous Squat Lobster looks for all the world like a a reject from a Japanese Monster Movie casting... at least to my twisted brain! $\:D/$

Chevayea · Post by **Chevayea** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:58 am

No kidding. The little dudes where everywhere! I hadn't noticed them before, but then i had never dove Octopus hole either. Maybe it should be renamed to Squat hole...Wait, that doesn't sound right....

Tom Nic · Post by **Tom Nic** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:06 am

The mud flats below the South Wall at Sund is usually crawling with them as well. I've never seen one outside of Hood Canal.

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:19 am

Chevayea wrote: Maybe it should be renamed to Squat hole...Wait, that doesn't sound right....

I can think of a few places that deserve that name ... but haven't dived in any (thank goodness) ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Chevayea · Post by **Chevayea** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:47 am

Grateful Diver wrote:
Chevayea wrote: Maybe it should be renamed to Squat hole...Wait, that doesn't sound right....
I can think of a few places that deserve that name ... but haven't dived in any (thank goodness) ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Awesome! $\:D/$

gcbryan · Post by **gcbryan** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:08 pm

I've certainly seen more of them in Hood Canal but they're at Cove 2 as well in the silty, deeper parts. I like their movement. If you try to touch one they jump backwards.

John Rawlings · Post by **John Rawlings** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:55 pm

I actually saw one last year at the Mukilteo clay walls....the first and only one I have ever seen there.