Wildlife Species Library

Crustaceans

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...