Rainbow on a Yellow Rock Crab
Rainbow on a Yellow Rock Crab
Subject: Yellow Rock Crab (Metacarcinus anthonyi)
Expedition: this photo was taken on the return leg of our 2024 expedition to the offshore archipelago, Haida Gwaii. British Columbia, Canada.
The story behind this photo: If you look closely you'll see an elegant little rainbow being cast on the crab's shell. It was a beautiful September day at one of my favourite dive spots on D'Arcy Island in the southern Gulf Islands. Midday sun isn't usually a draw for photographers, the bright light can create harsh highlights and contrast. But for me, it's perfect. The bright white light combined with clear shallow water makes for spectacular visibility. The water appears almost as clear as glass. That day I timed my dive with the tide so that I would be in only about 3ft of water. I love gliding like a seal, in and out of the rock formations, my belly occasionally stroking the rockweed. On my travels I passed this crab twice. First, I watched from a distance. Then passed a little closer to see how they felt about my presence. They didn't scarper so I took this as a sign I was ok to take a photograph without disturbing them. A light beam refracted through the gently dappled surface casting a rainbow across the crab. I'm not sure I could have predicted that if I had tried. And now it's one of my favourite shots.
Location: D'Arcy Island, Salish Sea. Unceeded territories of the Coast Salish People. British Columbia, Canada.
About Yellow Rock Crab: to the casual observer yellow rock crabs can look a lot like Dungeness crab. Sometimes their shell is yellow and speckled, sometimes golden brown, and other times a lush purple/pink. They also grow to a similar size, with males of both species reaching 16-17cm across the carapace. The best way to tell the two apart is to look for these three things:
- - black tips on their claws, Dungeness claws are white
- - strong yellow/orange underside, Dungeness are white
- - 9 teeth on each side of the carapace, Dungeness have 10 each side.
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