Coastal Creature Feature, October 2007
The August Creature was the Chinese Mitten Crab. These crabs get their name because its large claws, covered by soft bristles, resemble mittens (see left photos). This species is very invasive and has spread to North America and Europe from its native habitat in eastern Asia. The Chinese Mitten Crab is a threat to populations of native fish and crustacean species. If you catch a mitten crab, do not throw it back alive! Note the location and date where you found it, and notify the Mitten Crab Hotline at 443-482-2222. Congratulations to Sue Elliot of Eatontown, NJ, for being drawn from a pool of correct entries this month.
October Creature:
This species is similar to humans because it is warm-blooded, air-breathing, and milk-producing. However, unlike humans, this species has baleen instead of teeth. Scientists estimate that only 350 of these species exist today. This species’ habitat range includes ocean waters from the Bay of Fundi in Canada to the coast of Florida. This species commonly has callosities (shown in the picture to the right). Callosities are roughened patches of skin that appear in many of the places that humans have hair – on the top of the head, on the chin and jaw, and above the eyes. To enter for a chance to win a COA T-shirt, use the online form below, or send your guess by mail or fax (18 Hartshorne Dr., Suite 2, Highlands, NJ 07732; or 732-872-8041).
(Coastal Creature Feature appears every other month in the Clean Ocean Advocate.)
