Cancer bellianus
Encyclopedia
Cancer bellianus, the toothed rock crab, is a common species
of crab
in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean
.
length, and is pale brown with red spots.
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
. It is found at depths from 50 metres (164 ft) to over 730 m (2,395 ft). 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.
by artisan
fishermen targeting Palinurus elephas
, and as much as 10 t can be caught annually.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Description
It grows up to 130 millimetres (5.1 in) in carapaceCarapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
length, and is pale brown with red spots.
Distribution and ecology
Its geographical rangeRange (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
extends from near Höfn
Höfn
Höfn or Höfn í Hornafirði is an Icelandic fishing town in the south-eastern part of the country.As of 2011, the population of the town was 1,641. This harbour town, the second largest in the south-eastern part of Iceland, gives scenic views of Vatnajökull...
on the south coast of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
(at nearly 64° N) south to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, including the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
and the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
. It is found at depths from 50 metres (164 ft) to over 730 m (2,395 ft). While the species is sometimes abundant in the south of its range, it is uncommon further north; all the specimens from Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and further north were male, and are thought to be recent travellers from further south, rather than representing a stable northern population.
Fisheries
C. bellianus is caught as bycatchBycatch
The term “bycatch” is usually used for fish caught unintentionally in a fishery while intending to catch other fish. It may however also indicate untargeted catch in other forms of animal harvesting or collecting...
by artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
fishermen targeting Palinurus elephas
Palinurus elephas
Palinurus elephas is a spiny lobster, which is commonly caught in the Mediterranean Sea. Its common names include European spiny lobster, crayfish or cray , common spiny lobster, Mediterranean lobster and red lobster....
, and as much as 10 t can be caught annually.