Invertebrate Gallery - Pacific Northwest
SIZE: max. 6 in. in diameter and 2 in. high
Red Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus franciscanusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Spines are twice as long and more numerous than those of similar Purple Sea Urchin.
DESCRIPTION:
Red to purple-black. Abundant, long sharp spines.
SIZE: max. 1.75 in.
Candy Stripe Shrimp
Lebbeus grandimanusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brilliant yellow, blue and red bands.
DESCRIPTION:
Small transparent body. Often seen under anemone tentacles.
SIZE: max. 5.5 in.
Coonstripe Shrimp
Pandalus danae/P. gurneyiDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Legs and antennae have obvious dark bands.
DESCRIPTION:
Large translucent brown to green body with dark brown, red or black markings. Sometimes has thin blue lines or fine white spots. The most common shrimp seen by Pacific Northwest divers.
SIZE: max. 10 in. carapace width
Dungeness Crab
Cancer magisterDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Smooth tan-colored carapace, or outer skeleton. Widest point of carapace is at last (10th) tooth.
DESCRIPTION:
10 small, pointy “teeth” on either side of carapace. Claws are yellow, white-tipped and serrated. Similar sp. Slender Cancer Crab has a white margin on its carapace and purple legs.
SIZE: max. 4.25 in. in diameter and 3 in. in height
Giant Barnacle
Balanus nubilusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Rough, large whitish body plates that lack striations or grooves.
DESCRIPTION:
Very large, unstalked barnacle with a large aperture or opening. Often found in clusters.
SIZE: max. 3.1 in. carapace width
Green Crab
Carcinus maenasDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Multicolored or mottled dark green to orange carapace.
DESCRIPTION:
5 large teeth behind each eye. Fifth pair of legs is slightly flattened. Non-native species. Found in upper intertidal, not likely to be seen by divers.
SIZE: max. 3.5 in. carapace width
Northern Kelp Crab
Pugettia productaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Tips of claws do not have white or red tips.
DESCRIPTION:
Relatively smooth brown to reddish, shield-shaped carapace, long thin pincers. Walking legs end in sharp points.
SIZE: max. 8 in. carapace width
Red Rock Crab
Cancer productusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brick red fan-shaped carapace with black-tipped pincers and rounded teeth. Carapace widest at 2nd to last tooth.
DESCRIPTION:
9 rounded “teeth” on either side of carapace. (Similar sp. Dungeness crab has 10.) Teeth are also less pointy than those of the Dungeness crab.
SIZE: max. 10 in.
Spot Prawn
Pandalus platycerosDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: White spots on the first and fifth body segment abdomen.
DESCRIPTION:
Large light to dark translucent orange body. Carapace has white stripes down its entire length.
SIZE: colony to 2.5 in. high and 8.5 in. across
Lacy Bryozoan
Phidolopora labiataDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: White, pink to orange lace-like colonies.
DESCRIPTION:
Delicate, stiff, and brittle lattice formation. On surveys, count each separate colony as an individual.