Scarborough Rockpooling

PICTURE GALLERY - CRUSTACEANS

Edible Crabs (Cancer pagurus) are common at Holbeck, and most are found on the mid shore. Typically, carapace widths are 4-10cm, barring the tiny juveniles and the large adults that sometimes come in shore. They can be very aggressive if provoked.

Shore Crabs (Carcinus maenas) are also a common sight at Holbeck. These are present across the upper and middle shore, with carapace widths typically ranging 3-8cm. They are not particularly aggressive, although don't try them during breeding season!

Velvet Swimmer Crabs (Necora puber) are very common at Holbeck, across all shore heights. Generally, they reach a maximum carapce width of 8cm. They are ALWAYS aggressive, and will not turn down any opportunity to nip you!

The Great Spider Crab (Hyas araneus) is a rare sight. It is often found in deeper waters, and is rarely seen in rockpools. We have seen only, one, on the extreme lower shore during a very low tide. Their carapaces are longer than they are wide, and can reach nearly 15cm in carapace length. Our example was just 6cm.

Common Hermit Crabs (Pagurus bernhardus) are...well common really. They are present across the upper and middle shore, with one particular mid shore pool proving to be very popular for large hermit crabs at Holbeck. Shell heights rarely exceed 4cm. Occasionally, especially in late autumn and winter, large adults may be found, with shell heights sometimes exceeding 10cms!

Underneath large rocks on the lower shore, two types of Porcelain Crab can be found. The Long-Clawed Porcelain Crab (Pisidia longicornis) is common at Holbeck, although this time last year, it was a very rare sight at Holbeck. Carapace widths never really exceed 1cm.

Broad-Clawed Porcelain Crabs (Porcellana platycheles) are less common at Holbeck than their Long-Clawed counterparts. This time last year however, we never found any! They are a welcome addition to the already wide faunal range at Holbeck. Carapace widths of Broad-Clawed Crabs rarely exceed 1cm.

One crab that we have never seen on the East coast until very recently is the Bristly Crab (Pilumnus hirtellus). It is a small crab that is found under large rocks on the lower shore. Carapace widths rarely exceed 2cm. We have only seen two examples of this species at Holbeck. Note the rather thick-set, stocky body.

Lobsters are a common find at good low tides at Holbeck. We never used to find them, but that was when our rockpooling skills were poor - now we'd like to think we know what we're doing! The lobster that we always find is the Common European Lobster (Hommarus gammarus). The body length rarely exceeds 30cm. We have caught one that was 35cm long, and seen a fleeting glimpse of one that was close to 50cm long (estimate). They are found under large rocks and crevices on the lower shore.

A more and more frequent sight underneath rocks on the lower shore is the Squat Lobster (Galathea squamifera). Body lengths rarely exceed 3cm, although we have seen examples with 5cm+ body lengths.

Shrimps and prawns are also very common at Holbeck, prawns in particular. The prawn we see most often is (Palaemon serratus), the Common Prawn, present on all shore heights. Body lengths can reach over 10cm, but typically they are no longer than 6-7cm.

The Brown Shrimp (Crangon crangon) is not as common as the Common Prawn, but it is a frequent sight all the same at Holbeck. One of my favourite species down on the rocks. Body lengths are similar to the Common Prawn.

The Chameleon Prawn (Hippolyte varians) is not a common sight on the East Coast, but I think a lot are just overlooked. This particular example was found at Cornelian Bay and was 3cm long. They are named after their ability to change colour. 

Ligia oceanica, ie the Sea Slater, has been seen on a few occasions at Holbeck. They can grow to 6cm in length. Our example pictured was a mere 2cm long.

An isopod, identified as (Idotea neglecta) has been seen on several occasions at Holbeck. They are often underneath rocks on the middle shore. They reach around 2cm in length.

 ANY NEW SPECIES OF CRUSTACEANS FOUND AT HOLBECK WILL BE POSTED IN HERE