Cancer bellianus, the toothed rock crab, is a common species of crab in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean.
| Cancer bellianus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Cancridae |
| Genus: | Cancer |
| Species: | C. bellianus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cancer bellianus Johnson, 1861[1]
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Description
editIt grows up to 130 millimetres (5.1 in) in carapace length, and is pale brown with red spots.[2]
Distribution and ecology
editIts geographical range extends from near Höfn on the south coast of Iceland (at nearly 64° N) south to Morocco, including the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.[3] It is found at depths from 50 metres (160 ft) to over 730 m (2,400 ft).[4] While the species is sometimes abundant in the south of its range, it is uncommon further north; all the specimens from Brittany and further north were male, and are thought to be recent travellers from further south, rather than representing a stable northern population.[5]
Fisheries
editC. bellianus is caught as bycatch by artisan fishermen targeting Palinurus elephas, and as much as 10 t can be caught annually.[3]
References
edit- ^ Charles Fransen (June 12, 2007). "Cancer bellianus Johnson, 1861". European Register of Marine Species. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
- ^ M.J. de Kluijver; S.S. Ingalsuo. "Cancer bellianus". Macrobenthos of the North Sea: Crustacea. Universiteit van Amsterdam. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
- ^ a b Pinho, M. R.; J. M. Gonçalves & H. R. Martins (2001). "Biology and abundance of Cancer bellianus (Decapoda, Brachyura) around the Azores". ICES Journal of Marine Science. 58 (4): 896–903. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2001.1079.
- ^ J. A. Quiles; V. Rico; V. M. Tuset; J. I. Santana; J. A. González (2001). "Notes on the biology of Cancer bellianus (Brachyura, Cancridae) around the Canary Islands". Hydrobiologia. 449 (1–3): 193–199. doi:10.1023/A:1017546615270. S2CID 23107783.
- ^ James Mason; C. Davidson (1965). "Cancer bellianus Johnson in Northern Atlantic waters (Decapod Brachyura)". Crustaceana. 10 (3): 318–320. doi:10.1163/156854066X00261. JSTOR 20102755.