Species library
Field marks, habits, and camera tips for the wildlife that visits backyard habitats.
Ornate Spiny Lobster
Panulirus ornatus
The Ornate Spiny Lobster is the crown jewel of the tropical reef, showcasing a brilliant tapestry of turquoise, gold,...
Crustaceans
Oyster Pea Crab
Zaops ostreum
The ultimate coastal hitchhiker, the Oyster Pea Crab lives a secret life of luxury hidden inside the shells of living...
Crustaceans
Pacific Rock Crab
Romaleon antennarium
The heavy-hitter of the West Coast tide pools, the Pacific Rock Crab is a powerful predator recognizable by its brick...
Crustaceans
Pacific Sand Crab
Emerita analoga
The invisible engineer of the shoreline, the Pacific Sand Crab lives its life in the blur of crashing waves and shift...
Crustaceans
Painted Spiny Lobster
Panulirus versicolor
A masterpiece of marine evolution, the Painted Spiny Lobster sports a psychedelic coat of blue, green, and striped pa...
Crustaceans
Pea Crab
Pinnotheres pisum
A tiny, translucent squatter that makes its home inside the shells of mussels and oysters. The Pea Crab is a master o...
Crustaceans
Pink Shrimp
Penaeus duorarum
The 'Pink Gold' of the Gulf, this translucent crustacean is a master of disguise and a nocturnal engine of the coasta...
Crustaceans
Purple Mottled Shore Crab
Cyclograpsus granulosus
A gem of the Australian rocky shores, the Purple Mottled Shore Crab is a swift and secretive scavenger. Its beautiful...
Crustaceans
Purple Rock Crab
Leptograpsus variegatus
The ultimate coastal acrobat, the Purple Rock Crab brings a flash of royal color to the world's most rugged shoreline...
Crustaceans
Red Rock Crab
Cancer productus
Nicknamed the 'Pearl of the Pacific Northwest,' the Red Rock Crab is a crimson-colored powerhouse of the West Coast t...
Crustaceans
Regal Slipper Lobster
Arctides regalis
Meet the 'ula-papapa'—a master of disguise cloaked in royal purple and orange. This secretive crustacean swaps tradit...
Crustaceans
Ridged Slipper Lobster
Scyllarides nodifer
The ultimate master of marine disguise, the Ridged Slipper Lobster swaps flashy claws for a heavy-duty, armored shell...
Crustaceans
Rockpool Prawn
Palaemon elegans
The Rockpool Prawn is the translucent acrobat of the shoreline, instantly recognizable by its striking zebra-like str...
Crustaceans
Sculptured Slipper Lobster
Parribacus antarcticus
Meet the ocean's most elusive 'living rock.' With its flattened body and armor-plated shell, the Sculptured Slipper L...
Crustaceans
Smooth Shore Crab
Cyclograpsus lavauxi
The Smooth Shore Crab is a master of the intertidal 'splash zone.' With its polished, jewel-like shell and nocturnal ...
Crustaceans
Southern Spiny Lobster
Palinurus gilchristi
The Southern Spiny Lobster is the armored king of the South African continental shelf. A social scavenger known for i...
Crustaceans
Spanish Lobster
Scyllarides aequinoctialis
A master of disguise on the Atlantic reef, the Spanish Lobster swaps traditional claws for incredible shovel-shaped a...
Crustaceans
Spiny Squat lobster
Galathea strigosa
The Spiny Squat Lobster is the jewel of the Northeast Atlantic, instantly recognizable by its brilliant neon-blue str...
Crustaceans
White-tipped Mud Crab
Rhithropanopeus harrisii
The White-tipped Mud Crab is a tiny but tough inhabitant of our coastal waterways. Recognized by its distinctive 'whi...
Crustaceans
Yellow Rock Crab
Metacarcinus anthonyi
A golden-hued master of the Pacific shallows, the Yellow Rock Crab is a robust scavenger famous for its powerful blac...
CrustaceansNot sure what you saw?
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