Fauna
Invertebrate

Striped Shore Crab

Pachygrapsus crassipes

Also known as Lined Shore Crab

Striped shore crabs dominate the rocky intertidal zones of the Pacific coast, spending half their lives out of water actively foraging on algal turf and small invertebrates. They maintain body moisture by frequenting damp rock crevices and returning periodically to tide pools to flush their gill chambers. Highly territorial and energetic, they engage in spirited claw-waving displays to defend favored retreat crevices from neighbors.

IntertidalCrustaceanSemi-terrestrial
Striped Shore Crab reference1 / 7
(c) Jerry Kirkhart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyGreen Algae, Acorn Barnacles, Limpets
Predators
  • Glaucous-winged Gull
  • East Pacific Red Octopus
  • Raccoon
ThreatsOcean acidification, coastal pollution, oil spills, and habitat disruption
HabitatsRocky intertidal shores, tide pools, salt marshes, and hard mudflats
Life span3–5 years
Classification
  1. OrderDecapoda
  2. FamilyGrapsidae
  3. GenusPachygrapsus
  4. SpeciesPachygrapsus crassipes
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Pincers can deliver a sharp pinch if handled; observe quietly in tide pools.
Responsible observation
  • Tide Pool Spotting: Search crevices and under loose rocks during low tide where they seek shelter.
  • Observe Behavior: Watch them scrape algae off rocks with their reddish-purple pincers.
  • Gentle Observation: Avoid picking them up to prevent stressful claw pinches and damage to their limbs.
Related species
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