Identification Photos: Pacific Mole Crab, Hippa pacifica: The Pacific Mole Crab is a rather uncommon species that is found along the shoreline south of La Paz, on the east coast of the Sea of Cortez, along the coast of the mainland from Acapulco south to Guatemala, and around all of Mexico's oceanic islands.

The Pacific Mole Crab is characterized by an absence of striations that across the back half of its shell or carapace, long pointed feet, and long antennae and eyestalks.

The Pacific Mole Crab also has two small lobes at the top of the shell between the eyes that aid in differentiating this species. The Pacific Mole Crab reaches a maximum of just over 1 inch in length.

It can be easily confused with the Coldwater Mole Crab, Emerita analoga (differently shaped feet and lines across the back half of the carapace), the Striated Mole Crab, Hippa strigillata (differently shaped feet and lines along the margins of the carapace), and the Tropical Mole Crab, Emerita rathbunae (lines covering the carapace completely).

The Pacific 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.

Pacific Mole Crab, Hippa pacifica: Caught by hand off the beach at Cabo Real, near San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, August 2004. Size approximately 1.25 inches. Description and photos courtesy John Snow.