Identification Photos: Coldwater Mole Crab, Emerita analoga: The Coldwater Mole Crab, commonly referred to as a "sand crab," is a very common species found along the shoreline of the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula south to Guerrero Negro and in the middle third of the Sea of Cortez.

The Coldwater Mole Crab is characterized by striations that run across the back half of its shell or carapace, short paddle-like feet, and short antennae and eyestalks. The Coldwater Mole Crab reaches a maximum of just over 1 inch in length with females being about 30% larger than males. The Coldwater Mole Crab can be easily confused with the Pacific Mole Crab, Hippa pacifica (differently shaped feet), the Striated Mole Crab, Hippa strigillata (different shaped feet and lines along the margins of the carapace), and the Tropical Mole Crab, Emerita rathbunae (lines covering the carapace completely).

The Coldwater Mole Crab is one of four Mole Crabs found in Mexican waters, all belonging to the Hippidae Family known in Mexico as Muy-muy Cochitos.

Coldwater Mole Crab, Emerita analoga: Caught by hand off the beach slightly north of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, August 2004. Size approximately 1 inch. Description and photos courtesy John Snow.