Scientific Name:Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Common Name:Asian shore crab
Native Range:Coasts of China, Hong Kong, Korea, Russia, and Japan
Established Range:South Carolina to Canada
Established in Rhode Island?Yes, throughout Narragansett Bay
Date and Location of Introduction:1988, Cape May County, New Jersey
Method of Introduction:Unknown, but most likely ballast water
Habitat:H. sanguineus generally occupies the subtidal and intertidal rocky shoreline, with a marked preference for cobble beaches with an abundance of long, flat rocks. It has also been known to live on man-made structures such as seawalls and artificial reefs, and can tolerate a wide range of water salinities and temperatures.
Diet:H. sanguineusis a highly opportunistic omnivore that has been known to feed on algae, juvenile fish, snails, barnacles, and worms.
Average Lifespan:3 to 5 years
Breeding:The average breeding season for H. sanguineusis from May to September. During this time, a female can bear 2 to 4 clutches of eggs, with approximately 50,000 eggs per clutch. In Narragansett Bay, breeding peaks in June (Raposa and Morito, 2007).
Concerns:H. sanguineuscauses a number of problems when it is introducted to a new habitat. First, because it is aggressive and omnivorous, it easily outcompetes native marine invertebrates for food and space. It has a voracious appetite and has been known to feed on commercially important species, such as larval lobsters. Secondly, because H. sanguineusis capable of reproducing multiple times in a season, they easily outnumber local rock crabs, and have the potential to displace them entirely.
Control:There are no known control methods at this time.
Identification Card:Courtesy of Salem Sound Coastwatch
- Currently, there are no documents available for this species
Works Cited:ISSG. 2006. Ecology of Hemigrapsus sanguineus. The Global Invasive Species Database. http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=756&fr=1&sts
Ledesma, M.E. and N.J. O'Connor. 2001. Habitat and Diet of the Non-Native Crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus in Southeastern New England. Northeastern Naturalist. 8:1, p. 63-78. USGS. 2009. Asian shore crab. Southeast Ecological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL. http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/Nonindigenous_Species/Asian_shore_crab/asian_shore_crab.html