Hairy Crab

Hapalogaster mertensii

The Hairy Crab, a member of the king crab family, is a crustacean found in the Eastern Pacific, specifically around Canada. Divers can spot this species in temperate, benthic environments. The Hairy Crab can be identified by its unique hairy appearance, which sets it apart from other crabs in its habitat. This species is typically found at depths shallower than 110 meters, with a significant number of occurrences recorded at depths less than 40 meters. Divers exploring these depths might encounter the Hairy Crab on rocky or muddy bottoms, where it resides. Regarding reproduction, members of the order Decapoda, which includes the Hairy Crab, are mostly gonochoric, meaning they have distinct male and female individuals. They engage in a precopulatory courtship ritual, which involves olfactory and tactile cues, followed by indirect sperm transfer. The conservation status of the Hairy Crab has not been evaluated by the IUCN.