ID this crab

[meagheavz]

i sumwut saw this months ago it was living in a rock but i couldnt really c it. a few days ago i saw its claws and legs behinda rock. and tonight i caught him!! i didnt not buy him wut is he

 

[D1J8Z]

that is one SEXY gorilla crab

 

[meagheavz]

i dont hav a sump to but him in if he is evil

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

;-) Hi meagheavz

It looks to be a Mithraculus forceps...which can harm other invertebrates, so it was wise of you to remove it, at least until positive id is done so that no chances are taken. Here you have a web page where at least some 29 families of tropical crabs are show in many Photographs, please browse through each family starting with the Majidae family to which Mithraculus genus belongs, and see if you find one that matches the specimen you caught.

I look forward to read from you about this subject. Hope this comes of help.

Kind regards
Pedro Nuno;-)

 

[NYreefNoob]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/swcrabidfaqs.htm

 

[Opsanus tau]

It's not M.forceps, thats for sure!, ( I am very familiar with that crab)... is the rock Atlantic or Pacific?-Dave

 

[meagheavz]

it looks like like a gorilla crab to me.

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

it looks like like a gorilla crab to me.

Hi so a Gorilla crab (sorry but I'm still not familiar with common names:splitspin)...well have a look here then and have look here please and also here, more precisely here and also here the 4th photograph...could be a Chlorodiella cytherea of the Xanthidae family. Definitely a crab to remove.

Cheers
Pedro Nuno;-)

 

[meagheavz]

well it been gotten rid of..

 

[Killerdrgn]

How'd you get rid of it? Did you fry it up and eat it? Little salt and pepper? Tasty!:chefico:

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

How'd you get rid of it? Did you fry it up and eat it? Little salt and pepper? Tasty!

Hi everyone ;-)

....and some of them are also deadly if eaten:Yikes:...have a look here

One of the most poisonous mosaic crab (Lophozozymus pictor) around this region. People have died eating them as the toxins cannot be remove through cooking. Another interesting thing is that the red intensity of their shells seems to reflect their level of toxicity.

also have a look here and here and is this case here they exist by the millions, its an Island and nobody eats them, because...

Well might not be the case of the crab meagheavz found and I assume this Is a joke ;-)etc... and you probably know that even better than I, still I leave the information.

Cheers
Pedro Nuno ;-)
Post Scritpum : There could be perhaps some one interested and having the right conditions to house it.

 

[meagheavz]

he went for a swim with the fishes in the deep blue sea

 

[MikeyZO]

You gave him a swirlie, didnt you...

 

[georgelc86]

Oh no I hear the sirens of the Local Release Police. HA that rhymed.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Are you kidding me? Was he dead first? How did you kill it?

 

[meagheavz]

lol guys i meant like the ocean
my brother is a lobsterman/fisherman i gave it to him

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

:banghead: You don't return non indigenous species to local waters.

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

lol guys i meant like the ocean
my brother is a lobsterman so i went down to his boat and we went out and put in him the sea

Hi meagheavz ;-) I feared something like that...You meant well and showed a very high civic attitude by respecting the life integrity of an animal that ended up in your tank not because it wanted but simply it was with the LR that you have...Any way we all live in planet earth, still...the introduction of non indigenous fauna and flora can have severe consequences as you may read here and bellow the transcribed text portion of the consequences

VI. INVASION INFORMATION Invasion History:
The blackchin tilapia was the first of at least six species of tilapia that have been released into Florida environments (Shafland 1996). The species was originally imported into the United States to be raised and sold for the aquarium trade (Axelrod and Schultz 1955). Initial release to the natural environment was most likely an accidental escape from a west coast fish farm in the mid-1950s.

Introduction of blackchin tilapia to Florida waters initially occurred near Tampa Bay in the 1950s, through release associated with the aquarium trade (Springer and Finucane 1963, Courtenay and Robins 1973, Hensley and Courtenay 1980, Jennings and Williams 1992). The first records confirming collection of this species from the wild on the west coast of Florida date to 1959 (Springer and Finucane 1963).

The east coast IRL watershed blackchin tilapia population became established substantially later; the first reported collection from the wild dates to 1980 from Satellite Beach in Brevard County (Dial and Wainright 1983).

The east coast population may also derive from aquarium releases or aquaculture escapes, although there is some speculation that it resulted from an intentional introduction by fishermen (Dial and Wainright 1983, Jennings and Williams 1992). One additional IRL introduction pathway has been proposed that points to escape of this species from an ornamental pond located at the Satellite Beach Civic Center where it was used to control the growth of algae (Dial and Wainright 1983). Regardless of the actual mechanism, authors have suggested Satellite Beach as the likely epicenter for the east coast S. melanotheron introduction (Dial and Wainright 1983, Jennings and Williams 1992).

Thermal tolerance limits may restrict northward expansion of the Florida range of blackchin tilapia, but there appears to be no similar mechanism limiting southward range expansion (Snodgrass 1989, Jennings and Williams 1992).
Potential to Compete With Natives:
Large populations of S. melanotheron likely compete with native fish populations for resources. Courtenay et al. (1974) provide circumstantial evidence, noting a malnourished and diseased appearance in largemouth bass and bluegills co-occurring with non-native blackchin tilapia in a Florida freshwater spring. In addition to dietary items, blackchin tilapia may compete with other species for breeding and nesting space, as is typical for cichlids.

Direct predation of S. melanotheron on co-occurring native species may be less important than competitive interactions. Given their adaptability and euryhaline habit, however, the species nevertheless has the ability to dominate systems it invades potentially resulting in biodiversity reduction (Dial and Wainright 1983). FishBase rates the resilience of S. melanotheron as "medium" based on an estimated minimum population doubling time of 1.4 - 4.4 years.

Established populations of blackchin tilapia have been associated with a reduction of aquatic vegetation due to overgrazing (Courtenay et al. 1974).
Possible Economic Consequences of Invasion:
Blackchin tilapia have been exploited as a food resource in their native range, and have been utilized as an aquaculture and non-native fishery species elsewhere as well. Early records of commercial utilization in Florida date from 1959, when the species was marketed under the name "African sunfish" (Springer and Finucane 1963). S. melanotheron taken from Florida waters are included as commercial fishery landings, but no estimate on the value of this fishery component has been assessed.

No studies have been reported that fully evaluate the economic impacts this exotic fish has had on freshwater, marine, and estuarine systems in Florida.

Its because of possibilities such as the ones above and also to allow respect for animal life that I wrote in my post earlier

Post Scritpum : There could be perhaps some one interested and having the right conditions to house it.

You undoubtedly meant well and there are many other possibilities of such a crab ending up in local waters brought inside the sea-gauge of a merchant ship, a thing happening further and further. In situations such as this, a LFS could be of help or another hobbyist could have the conditions to receive one or another animal.



You meant well and cared for within your limits and knowledge, we all must be very careful.


Cheers
Pedro Nuno ;-)

 

[JHOV2324]

VOTE for Pedro!!!! The man of infinite information!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[meagheavz]

im sure it was fine. i was about 25 mile off shore so that isnt local at all and it was ina trap with food. where it could get out. it was that or smash him with a brick.. it is prob happy where he is no lots of food and other crabs