Acantholithodes hispidus

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: This appears to be the only species in its genus anywhere in the world. Hapalogaster mertensii and H. inermis have similar shape, soft abdomen, and spiny carapace/legs but there are no spines on their rostrum. There are several other local lithodid crabs which are hairy or spiny, such as Phyllolithodes papillosus and Rhinolithodes wosnessenskii, but none of these other lithodid crabs has the soft abdomen which is not held tightly under the thorax. Placetron wosnessenskii has a soft abdomen but its surface is scale-like rather than spiny.

Biology/Natural History: This species eats shrimp and will often enter shrimp traps.

Sandy, muddy, or rocky substrate; often on vertical rock walls.

Like all Lithodid crabs, The first pereopods are chelate, the fifth pereopod is reduced, the abdomen is folded under the thorax, and uropods are absent. Acantholithodes hispidus has a thick, soft abdomen which is not tightly held against the underside of the thorax. The abdomen is calcified only at the base, but has many small setose spines. Both the upper and lower margins of the pereopods are lined with setose spines. The chelipeds are of unequal size and covered with setose spines. The right cheliped is usually the larger one. The dactyl of the cheliped is shorter than the palm of the propodus. The carapace is flat and heart-shaped or pear-shaped, widest just behind the middle, and both the body and the legs are covered with stout spines and hairs. The spines along the margins of the carapace are larger than those dorsally. The branchial regions of the carapace are slightly depressed. The rostrum is covered with stout spines along its entire length. The eyestalks are light brown with dark brown stripes, and the cornea of the eye is orange with a black pigment spot. Overall color brown, red, and white with reddish-orange chelae that have white molar-like 'teeth'. Most of the red or orange color is on the spines. Carapace of males to 7.5 cm wide, females to 50 mm.

Geographical Range: Bering Sea to central California and Carlton do not even mention it.

Depth Range: Intertidal to 164 m.