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Sharp-nosed Crab

Scyra acutifrons

Sharp-nosed Crab

Scyra acutifrons
At the Aquarium
Sandy Coast

At the Aquarium

Sandy Coast

Appearance

This small crab is named for its flat rostrum that is longer than it is wide and has 2 sharp tips. Its bumpy, triangle-shaped carapace reaches up to 1.8” in width. It has relatively short walking legs but long and slender claws, with males having longer chelipeds than walking legs. The claws are usually red with white teeth.

Habitat

Mostly subtidal in rocky areas

Diet

Detritus and sessile invertebrates

Life History

The sharp-nosed crab has a terminal molt upon reaching adulthood, so it no longer molts or grows. In a single brood a female will have roughly 150 eggs but she can reproduce several times a year.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

These crabs are important because they eat detritus, thus recycling those nutrients back into the system. They also feed many fish predators including a variety of rockfish species, kelp greenlings, and sculpins.
Their rough carapace provides a settling site for a variety of sessile invertebrates including barnacles, sponges, and even small anemones.
Range
Alaska to Mexico
On the Oregon Coast
These crabs can be found in the lower intertidal zone so keep an eye out for them while tidepooling.
Fun Facts
These crabs are not active decorators but their rough carapace allows organisms such as sponges and bryozoans to grow on it.

Citations & Other Resources

  • Cricket Raspet, Scyra acutifrons, CC BY 4.0
  • Biodiversity of the Central Coast website: https://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/sharp-nosed-crab-bull-scyra-acutafrons.html
  • Hines, Anson H. “Allometric constraints and variables of reproductive effort in brachyuran crabs.” Marine Biology 69 (1982): 309-320.
  • Invertebrates of the Salish Sea website: https://inverts.wallawalla.edu/Arthropoda/Crustacea/Malacostraca/Eumalacostraca/Eucarida/Decapoda/Brachyura/Family_Majidae/Scyra_acutifrons.html
  • Our Wild Puget Sound website: https://www.ourwildpugetsound.com/journal/puget-sound-tide-pooling-guide-preview
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About Oregon Coast Aquarium

Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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