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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: Asian shore crab
Synonyms and Other Names: Japanese shore crab, Pacific crab
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: The Asian shore crab has a square-shaped shell with 3 spines on each side of the carapace. The carapace color ranges from green to purple to orange-brown to red. It has light and dark bands along its legs and red spots on its claws. Male crabs have a distinctive fleshy, bulb-like structure at the base of the moveable finger on the claws.
Size: Adults range from 35 mm - 42 mm in carapace width.
Native Range:
Hemigrapsus sanguineus is indigenous to the western Pacific Ocean from Russia, along the Korean and Chinese coasts to Hong Kong, and the Japanese archipelago.
Nonindigenous Occurrences: Hemigrapsus was first recorded in the United States at Townsend Inlet, Cape May County, New Jersey in 1988 (Balabam et al. 2001). This species is now well established and exceptionally abundant along the Atlantic intertidal coastline of the United States from Maine to North Carolina (MIT Sea Grant). It is actively breeding and expanding its population within its nonnative range. Because the species is tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions, it is likely that the invasion will continue along the US coastline. Established in Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Connecticut (USFWS 2005). Established in Hudson River and its tributaries and Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, New York (USFWS 2005; Daniels 2005)
Means of Introduction: It is not known how this species was introduced to the United States Atlantic coast, but many speculate that adults or larvae were brought by incoming ships of global trade via ballast water discharge.
Status: Preliminary evidence shows that rockfish and seagulls may prey upon Hemigrapsus. Parasites, which help control populations of Hemigrapsus in its native range, are not present along the US Atlantic coast. The shore crab may continue to expand its range along the US Atlantic coastline until it reaches its salinity and temperature tolerance levels. Scientists are monitoring changes in native species, tracking the shore crab's spread along the coastline, and conducting experiments to increase their knowledge of basic biology and ecology of this species. Ballast water management is also being researched to reduce or eradicate new introductions from occurring.
Impact of Introduction: Because this species has a very broad diet, it has the potential to affect populations of native species such as crabs, fish, and shellfish by disrupting the food web. It also occupies habitats very similar to our native mud crabs, possibly overwhelming and dominating their habitat. This potential impact on native species populations may be a result of direct predation or competition for a food source. Hemigrapsus may compete with larger species, like the blue crab, rock crab, lobster, and the nonnative green crab. Recent trends show numbers of shore crabs are steadily increasing while native crab populations are declining. These opportunistic omnivores may also pose threats to coastline ecosystems and aquaculture operations. There are still many questions to be answered by scientists about impacts this species may pose to biodiversity in those ecosystems affected.
Remarks: This species is an opportunistic omnivore, feeding on macroalgae, salt marsh grass, larval and juvenile fish, and small invertebrates such as amphipods, gastropods, bivalves, barnacles, and polychaetes. The Asian shore crab is highly reproductive with a breeding season from May to September, twice the length of native crabs. The females are capable of producing 50,000 eggs per clutch with 3-4 clutches per breeding season. The larvae are suspended in the water for approximately one month before developing into juvenile crabs. Because of this, the larvae have the ability to be transported over great distances, a possible means of new introductions.
References
Balabam, M., L.Whitlow, S. Day, and A. Locke 2001. Marine biological invaders - Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine (October 29 - November 9) http://www.fundyforum.com/tdarchive/td10.html
Other Resources:
USGS Nonindigenous Species Bulletin - Asian Shore Crab
Author: M. M. Richerson
Revision Date: 4/6/2006 Citation for this information:
M. M. Richerson. 2009. Hemigrapsus sanguineus. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=183> Revision Date: 4/6/2006
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