Graceful Kelp Crab

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Find this crab in eelgrass beds, seaweed or kelp. Look for orange tipped claws.

This interesting crab is also called a Decorator Kelp Crab.  For some reason, they literally decorate their rostrum (snout) with bits of seaweed, sponges and bryzoa. Sometimes you can observe them “primping.”

Graceful Kelp Crabs have a large rostrom (snout) with points far apart.

Their carapace (shell) is bumpy not smooth like the Northern Kelp Crab, but they are delicate looking like other kelp crabs.

See Northern Kelp Crab

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Notice the differences between the graceful kelp crab (left) and the northern kelp crab.

 

 

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