Inflated Spider Crab, Stenocionops angustus

Inflated Spider Crab, Stenocionops angustus. Crab provided by the commercial fishermen of the Greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, July 2010. Shell size: 4.0 cm (1.6 inches) x 5.7 cm (2.2 inches).

General information: The Inflated Spider Crab, Stenocionops angustus, is a brachyuran crab and a member of the Majidae Family, which includes the spider crabs that are known in Mexico as cangrejos. It is known locally as Mexicano cangrejo araña. The majority of spider crabs live in deep water on the continental shelf. They are not well known and rarely studied. All have long legs and shells that are longer than they are wide and have a point at the front. Most have bristles that they utilize to attach algae and other items for camouflage which gives rise to the common name Decorator Crabs.

Identification: The Inflated Spider Crab is a red-brown decapod with a highly textured triangular carapace that looks largely inflated, with short spires (a key to identification) and the long chelae (claws) have white tips. The Inflated Spider Crab reach a maximum of 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) in length.

Habitat and Range:  The Inflated Spider Crab are found in rocky, sub-tidal environments and sandy bottoms at depths between 3 m (10 feet) and 61 m (200 feet). In Mexico, they are found from Guerrero Negro southward along the central and southwest coasts of Baja and throughout the Sea of Cortez. The Inflated Spider Crab is uncommon and normally only caught by shrimp trawlers.

Diet:  The Inflated Spider Crab diet is not well known due to lack of research and related publications.

Conservation Status:  The Inflated Spider Crab has not been formally evaluated from a conservation status.  However, they are common and of limited interest to most and should be considered to be of Least Concern.

Synonyms: Chorilibinia angusta and Chorilibinia angustus,