Blackclaw Crestleg Crab

Lophopanopeus bellus

The Blackclaw Crestleg Crab is a small crustacean native to the Pacific coasts of North America, ranging from Alaska to California. Its carapace can reach up to 5 cm in width and is characterized by a rounded shape with low, rounded tubercles on the upper side. The legs are covered with bristles and end in distinctive black claws. The crab's coloration is highly variable, including shades of off-white, bluish-black, red, and nearly black, with a typically whitish underside. It can be confused with the similar-sized Glebocarcinus oregonensis, but the latter has spiny ridges on its chelae instead of tubercles. This species is commonly found in coastal waters along the Pacific, favoring benthic habitats. It is most frequently encountered at depths shallower than 40 meters, although it can be found down to about 70 meters. The Blackclaw Crestleg Crab is known for its reproductive behavior, with breeding starting in April in areas like Puget Sound. Females carry their eggs on the underside of their abdomen until they hatch from May to August, releasing larvae that become part of the plankton. Divers may encounter this crab in temperate environments, often in rocky or muddy bottoms. There is no current evaluation of its conservation status by the IUCN, and it is not listed under CITES or CMS.