Corystes cassivelaunus

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Corystes cassivelaunus	Common name	Masked crab
MCS Code	S1552	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Crustacea	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Eumalacostraca
Subclass	Eucarida	Order	Decapoda
Suborder	Pleocyemata	Family	Corystidae
Genus	Corystes	Species	cassivelaunus
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Hayward et al., 1996, Naylor, 2000, Campbell, 1982, Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
General Biology
Growth form	Articulate	Feeding method	Predator, Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Crawler, Burrower	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Infaunal
Typical food types	Burrowing invertebrates	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not researched
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Crothers & Crothers, 1988, Fish & Fish, 1996, Ingle, 1980, Warner, 1977, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Sweden to Portugal and in the Mediterrean off the coasts of Malta.
Biogeographic range	Temperate to warm temperate.	Depth range	0 - 90 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Coarse clean sand, Fine clean sand, Sandy mud, Muddy sand, Gravelley sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore	Wave exposure	Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered, Very Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, Hiscock et al, 2001, NBN, 2002, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Ingle, 1980, Warner, 1977, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic, Brooding
Reproductive Season	May to July	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	3-5 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1-2 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity
Egg/propagule size	500 µm diameter	Fertilization type	Internal
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not researched Larval settlement period June to August Duration of larval stage 11-30 days
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Mente, 2008, Gurney, 1902, Wenner, 1985, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Crothers & Crothers, 1988, Ingle, 1980, Hartnoll, 1968, Julie Bremner, unpub data, Tillin et al., 2006