Arthropods
The phylum Arthropoda contains the most species out of all the phylums in the animal kingdom. Familiar examples of Arthropods are spiders and insects. The arthropods found at the Shark River Mudflats are of the groups Crustacea (crabs, shrimp) and Chelicerata (horseshoe crabs). All Arthropods share some common characteristics such as a segmented body and jointed paired, segmented legs. Arthropods also have a hard exoskeleton, or cuticle, which is made out of chitin that is secreted by the organism. Because the hard cuticle cannot expand as the body of the arthropod grows, the organism must periodically shed the cuticle and grow a new one. This shedding is a process called ecdysis or molting.
Below are some examples of Arthropods found at the Shark River Mudflats.
Flat-browed Mud Shrimp
Upogebia affinis Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Mandibulata Subclass: Crustacea Habitat: burrows in sand and mudflats Feeding: ?? Range: Cape Cod to Florida and Texas, West Indies to Brazil
Long-clawed Hermit Crab
Pagurus longicarpus Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Mandibulata Subclass: Crustacea Habitat: sand, mud, weed bottoms along the open shores of estuaries Feeding: ?? Range: Nova Scotia to Florida to Texas
As seen in the photo to the left, these hermit crabs are very tiny, only about one inch in length. Unlike most arthropods, hermit crabs don't grow their own shells. Instead whenever they outgrow their old shells, they move into a larger shell that a snail has left behind. Hermit crabs are most commonly associated with pets bought at beachfront stores; however, these hermit crabs are the ones found for sale. These crabs can't survive that long out of water.
Green Crab
Carcinus maenas Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Mandibulata Subclass: Crustacea Habitat: rocks, jetties, mud banks, coastal wetlands, tidepools, open shore and brackish waters Feeding: ?? Range: Nova Scotia to New Jersey
These crabs are only 3 - 4 inches wide, and as seen in the above picture can fit in the palm of your hand. The Green Crab originally came from Europe, but now is the most common crab along the shores of New England. Look in the picture to the left. Can find the crab? It's hidden because the Green Crab is camoflauge so it can hide in the algae that floats in the shallow pools of the mudflats. Without this adaptation, the Green Crab would become a tasty treat for seagulls.
Red Oppossum Shrimp
Heteromysis formosa Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Mandibulata Subclass: Crustacea Habitat: tide pools, underocks and shells Feeding: ?? Range: Bay of Fundy to New Jersey
This shrimp is very small at only 1/2 and inch long. It likes to hide in pools of water under rocks and shells, especially the shells of the surf clam. The Red Opossum Shrimp is also a very important part of the food chain in coastal ecosystems.