Identification Photos: Striated Mole Crab, Hippa strigillata: The Striated Mole Crab is characterized by a series of lines that cover the sides of the carapace and the complete abdomen. It has long slender pointed feet, relatively long antennae and short eyestalks. The Striated Mole Crab also havs one small lobe at the top of the shell between the eyes that is a key in differentiating this species (as pictured below).

The Striated Mole Crab reaches a maximum length of just over 1 inch. The Striated Mole Crab can be easily confused with the Cold Water Mole Crab, Emerita analoga (differently shaped feet, lines across the back half of the carapace), the Pacific Mole Crab, Hippa pacifica (two small lobes at the top of the shell between the eyes, no lines on the carapace), and the Tropical Mole Crab, Emerita rathbunae (lines completely covering the carapace).

In Mexico, the Striated Mole Crab is a rather uncommon species that is found only between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas on the east coast of the lower Baja California peninsula and along the coast of the Mexican mainland from Acapulco south to Guatemala.

The Striated Mole Crab is one of four Mole Crabs found in Mexican waters, all belonging to the Hippidae Family, which are collectively known in Mexico as muy-muy cochitos.

The Hippidae Family has two genera, the Emerita Genus and the Hippa Genus.

Members of the Emerita Genus have a strongly convex oval shell (carapace) that covers the legs, front legs (nonchelated) without claws, back legs (telson) resembling paddles, long slender antennae, and long slender eye stalks.

Members of the Hippa Genus have a similar carapace, but the front and back legs are slender and pointed. They have short stubby antenna and short stubby eye stalks.

The Mole Crabs reside in sifting sand on wave-swept beaches in areas washed by waves and are very adaptable to conditions of heavy surf and strong currents. They bury themselves near the surface, facing seaward, with only their antennae and eyes out of the sand. They collect floating debris, as waves drain off the beach, with their first pair of legs which is then transferred to their mouths. In some locations they are fairly abundant but difficult to observe because they blend into the background extremely well. Interestingly they reproduce based on food availability and not on seasonal, tidal or water temperature changes. They are a favorite live bait of the Southern California surf fisherman but not utilized frequently as bait in Mexico.

Striated Mole Crab, Hippa strigillata: Collected by hand off the beach at Cabo Real, Km. 21, Baja California Sur, Mexico, November 2006. Size approximately 1 inch. Identification courtesy of Dr. Greg C. Jensen, University of Washington. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.