Northwest Dive Club

Came across this little critter Saturday at Gull Rock. I've seen tons of King Crab, but never one with this particular issue going on. My guess is pregnant or with eggs. Anyone know for sure or have another guess??? Thanks.


-Mathue

Mathue, interesting find.
I think it might be the same mystery I found at Keystone last year. I never received definite answer as what caused
it. They are not eggs... You got to scroll down, I don't know how to link to the pages dealing with the King crab :(

http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php ... start=2125

Thanks Jan! I read all the replies. Very interesting indeed. I'll have to keep my eyes out for it again. It can't be too common with the number and frequency of King Crab that I've seen and this is the first one.


-Mathue

Very cool, fwiw i've seen brown box crab L. Formiatus (sp?) with enlarged abdomens but not to the degree of those examples... Those were just filled with fluid, not eggs... No answers here but curious

This just popped up in my Facebook news feed from a biologist that I follow. Looks like the same info that Jan got from his sources with some more gruesome detail. Sucks to be a crab....

http://deepseanews.com/2013/10/this-may ... m=facebook


-Mathue

Sounds like a new Alien movie!

They say that nature is stranger than fiction! And scarier too

Reminds me of this one:
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/ ... nt-fungus/

Seaslave wrote:This just popped up in my Facebook news feed from a biologist that I follow. Looks like the same info that Jan got from his sources with some more gruesome detail. Sucks to be a crab....

http://deepseanews.com/2013/10/this-may ... m=facebook


-Mathue

But just to be clear- this bulge on the king crab is definitely not due to a rhizocephalan.