Biology The spider crab is the largest crab found in Irish waters, with a carapace width of up to 20cm and a leg span of 50cm or more. Spider crabs inhabit coarse sand mixed grounds and open bedrock from the shallow sublittoral zone to a depth of 120m, although highest...
Biology The brown crab is the heaviest Irish crab and easily identified by a characteristic ‘pie-crust’ edge to the carapace. They are found in waters down to 100m. Brown crabs are highly fecund and spawn mainly in the winter months. They can grow up to about 25cm carapace width, with...
Lobsters are invertebrates, and have a tough exoskeleton, which protects them. Like most arthropods, lobsters must molt in order to grow, leaving them vulnerable during this time. During the molting process, several species may experience a change in color. Lobsters live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the shoreline...
King scallops (scientific name: Pecten maximus) Scallops are mainly found at depths of 18-46 m, preferring substrates of clean firm sand, fine gravel or sandy gravel. King scallops recess into the sediment to a level with the upper shell; sometimes they are partially covered. Like other bivalve molluscs, scallops are...
