One of the arthropod species that students participating in the Grade 6 Ocean Discovery Program at the Huntsman get a chance to hold, observe, and draw is the rock crab (Cancer irroratus). This near shore crab species is collected from the ocean floor using the scallop drag on our research vessel.
· Rock crab prey includes small scallops, mussels, gastropods, sea urchins, brittlestars, sand shrimp, marine worms, and for the larger rock crab, small lobsters.
· Predators of adult rock crabs include lobsters and green crabs, an invasive species.
· Mating occurs after a female has moulted and she still has a soft shell.
· A female can produce anywhere from 4,000 to 330,000 eggs.
· Rock crabs are harvested commercially in parts of the Maritimes.
For more information on the Grade 6 Ocean Discovery Program visit our website, www.huntsmanmarine.ca/html/grade_6.html.
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