Furry Crab

Hapalogaster cavicauda

Hapalogaster cavicauda, commonly known as the Furry Crab, is a small, flattened crustacean found along the Pacific coast of North America. It is characterized by a carapace width of up to 20 millimeters and is covered in setae, or hair-like structures, which give it a distinctive furry appearance. These hairs are particularly dense on the third maxilliped, aiding in filtering plankton from the water, which, along with algae scraped from rocks, forms the crab's primary diet. The Furry Crab inhabits rocky substrates in the low intertidal zone to depths of 15 meters. Its range extends from Cape Mendocino in California to Isla San Jerónimo in Mexico. Divers may encounter these crabs beneath rocks, where they often reside. Despite their small size, they play a role in the benthic ecosystem as both grazers and filter feeders. Reproductive behavior in Hapalogaster cavicauda involves a precopulatory courtship ritual, common among decapods, which includes olfactory and tactile cues. Females carry their eggs on their tails during the winter months. Currently, there is no evaluation of the conservation status of this species by the IUCN.