Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Graceful Kelp Crab, Pugettia gracilis, commonly found in eelgrass beds and on rocky shorelines from Alaska to Monterey Bay. It is distinguishable by rows of small hooks on the carapace into which it can place bits of algae, eelgrass and other organisms for camouflage. However, it is usually seen without camouflage on the carapace.

Photo Category: Estuaries - Fauna - Marine
Photo Location: North Puget Sound, Anacortes, Washington