Dolly Varden Crab
ExploreInvertebrate
Dolly Varden Crab
hepatus epheliticus
The Dolly Varden Crab is a colorful little creature that loves to scuttle around in the sand. With its bright colors and playful nature, it's sure to bring a smile to your face!
Habitat: Dolly Varden Crabs live in coastal waters, often found near sandy beaches and rocky shores.
Appearance
The Dolly Varden Crab has a rounded, flattened body adorned with striking red-orange to dark brown spots on a cream or pale yellow background, resembling the trout it's named after. Its short, stout legs and small pincers complete its distinctive, patterned look, making it stand out on the sandy seafloor.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderDecapodaFamilyAethridaeGenusHepatus
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Did you know this crab is named after a colorful fish, the Dolly Varden trout, because of its similar spotty patterns?
These crabs can regenerate lost limbs, meaning if they lose a leg or pincer, a new one can grow back!
Unlike many crabs, they are often solitary, preferring to hunt and live alone on the seafloor.
When buried, only its tiny eyes and antennae might stick out of the sand, waiting patiently for a meal!
Special abilities
Ability
Spot-On Camouflage
Dolly Varden Crab has a spotted shell pattern that helps them blend perfectly with speckled sand, making them nearly invisible to predators.
Ability
Rapid Burial Specialist
Dolly Varden Crab can dig backwards incredibly fast into soft sand, vanishing from sight in seconds to escape danger or ambush prey.
Ability
Strong Pinchers
Dolly Varden Crab has strong, specialized pincers that help them crack open tough shells of clams and snails for food.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 5 cm
- Weight
- 60 g
- Lifespan
- 3 years
Diet & Feeding
This crab is a hungry hunter, gobbling up small shelled animals it finds on the seafloor!
Primary Foods
- small clams
- sea snails
- marine worms
- other small crustaceans
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
hunts crabs in coastal waters
eaten by
Tonguefish
Symphurus plagiusa
eats small crustaceans
eats
Coquina Clam
Donax variabilis
cracks shells of small bivalves
eats
Eastern Mud Snail
Nassarius vibex
preys on various small snails
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Colorful CrabDolly CrabScuttling Crab
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always watch where you step near the water to avoid crabs!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Dolly Varden Crab?
5 cm
How much does Dolly Varden Crab weigh?
60 g
How long does Dolly Varden Crab live?
3 years
What does Dolly Varden Crab eat?
This crab is a hungry hunter, gobbling up small shelled animals it finds on the seafloor!
Where is Dolly Varden Crab usually found?
Dolly Varden Crabs live in coastal waters, often found near sandy beaches and rocky shores.
How does Dolly Varden Crab hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
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