 | Sargassum muticum, North Devon.
Image: Keith Hiscock |
 | Sargassum muticum in very shallow water.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Sargassum muticum on a rocky surface.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Wire weed on a rocky substrate.
Image: Keith Hiscock |
 | Wire weed out of water showing 'washing line' appearance.
Image: Keith Hiscock |
 | Sargassum muticum and sea thong.
Image: Steve Trewhella |
 | Sargassum muticum and sea thong.
Image: Steve Trewhella |
 | Sargassum muticum as first discovered at Bembridge, Isle of Wight.
Image: Dr Gerald Boalch |
 | Close up of Sargassum muticum underwater showing air bladders.
Image: Jack Sewell |
 | Sargassum muticum at South Milton Sands.
Image: Paul Newland |
 | Styela clava attached to rock. Firestone Bay, Plymouth.
Image: Keith Hiscock |
 | Styela clava with an anemone attached.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Styela clava.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | The clubbed tunicate, Styela clava
Image: Keith Hiscock |
 | The clubbed or stalked tunicate, Styela clava.
Image: Steve Trewhella |
 | Styela clava.
Image: Keith Hiscock |
 | Styela clava with Clavelina lepadiformis growing on a marina pontoon.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Styela clava under boulder on shore.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Styela clava under intertidal overhang.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Styela clava specimen from marina pontoon in south Devon.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Styela clava growing on buoy rope in marina.
Image: Judith Oakley |
 | Diplosoma spp. growing on Styela clava with adjacent Bugula neritoides, an invasive bryozoan.
Image: Judith Oakley |
Video clip, 8,335 KB. | Lots Road Power Station is located on the north bank of the River Thames to the west of Battersea Bridge, Chelsea and was the site of the first Chinese mitten crab record in the British Isles. The station is now redundant, but up until 25 October 2002 it used to generate electricity for the London Underground. Thames water was sucked into the power station to cool the generating plant. Revolving screens filtered the water by removing all debris that might possibly block the cooling system. These screens were continually washed and the unwanted refuse deposited into a concrete pit. Mixed in with the rubbish were large adult mitten crabs caught in the intake water during their seaward migration down the river to mate.
Film taken by Brian Smith (Natural History Museum) and Susan Thawley (Bristol University), 10 October 2002.
Produced by Ken Katuramu and Paul Clark (Natural History Museum)Copyright Natural History Museum. Click here to view |
Video clip, 5,730 KB. | Scattered on the north bank of the River Thames under Albert Bridge are many large boulders that provide shelter for numerous amphipods and small mitten crabs. The presence of juvenile Eriocheir sinensis in such large numbers is indicative of a thriving population within the River Thames and demonstrates that this alien crab is now well established. Please remember to replace boulders back in their original down-turned position.
Film taken by Brian Smith (Natural History Museum) and Susan Thawley (Bristol University), 10 October 2002.
Produced by Ken Katuramu and Paul Clark (Natural History Museum)
Copyright Natural History Museum. Click here to view |
 | Eriocheir sinensis collected 20 August 1992.
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: megalop, with extend abdomen giving lobster-like appearance (reared in the Zoology Department, NHM).
Image: Peter York/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: after the metamorphosis from megalop to first crab stage the abdomen becomes tucked under the body of the crab.
Image: Nigel Charles/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Approximate native distribution of Eriocheir sinensis along the Northern Coast of China and Korea.
Image: Paul Clark/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Mitten crab purchased from a street market in Hong Kong.
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | An advert from a local Thai newspaper.
Image: Paul Clark/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | The rapid spread of Eriocheir sinensis across NE Europe from 1912-1937.
Image: Paul Clark/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | The life cycle of the human parasite Paragonimus westermanii.
Image: Roni Robbins/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Cross section of ship showing ballast tanks.
Image: Dr Stephen Gollasch |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: carapace is quadrate [squarish].
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Ballast water being discharged from the hull of a ship.
Image: Dr Stephen Gollasch |
 | The inside of a ballast tank. Note the vast area used to hold water.
Image: Dr Stephen Gollasch |
 | Sediment in the bottom of a ballast tank provides a good habitat for transporting animals.
Image: Dr Stephen Gollasch |
 | Artwork depicting The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis.
Image: Jiangsu Fine Arts Publishing House |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: frontal carapace margin between the eyes with four distinct sharp lobes.
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: lateral carapace margin with four teeth (spines).
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: setal mat (mittens) on chela (claw) of adult male crab. The function of the mittens remains a mystery.
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: narrow V-shaped abdomen of adult male crab.
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: broad, U-shaped abdomen of adult female crab to protect eggs.
Image: Phil Crabb/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Catadromous life history of Eriocheir sinesis.
Image: Roni Robbins/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
 | Eriocheir sinensis: zoeal stage VI (eared in the Zoology Department, NHM).
Image: Peter York/Natural History Museum (NHM) |
