Bay Delta Region
- Mitten Crab Home
- Life History
- Identification
- Written Documents
- Pictures
- Regulations
- Report a Sighting
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Other BDR Links
Main Office
7329 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 944-5500
Stockton Office
4001 North Wilson Way
Stockton, CA 95205
(209) 948-7800
Acting Regional Manager:
Scott Wilson
Related Programs

Chinese Mitten Crab: Identification
![[ Chinese Mitten Crab ]](images/identcrab.jpg)
Adult Characteristics:
- hairy claws with white tips, normally equal in size
- notch between the eyes
- four lateral carapace spines (fourth spine is small)
- smooth, round carapace or body shape
- maximum carapace width (distance across the back) is approximately 80 mm (3 inches)
- legs over twice as long as the carapace width
- light brown color
![[ Juvenile Chinese Mittin Crab ]](images/juvcrabindet.jpg)
Juvenile Mitten Crab Characteristics:
- notch between the eyes
- claws may not be hairy if carapace width is less than 20 mm (¾ inch)
- claws are hairy by 25 mm (1 inch) carapace width
- four lateral carapace spines (fourth spine is small)
- smooth, round carapace or body shape
- legs over twice as long as the carapace width
- light brown color
![[ Harris Crab ]](images/harrisident.jpg)
Small mitten crabs may be confused with the Harris mud crab, because of their similar size and appearance.
- no notch between the eyes
- non-hairy, white-tipped claws
- ridges on back
- dull greenish-brown color
- maximum carapace width is 19 mm (¾ inch)
