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Order AMPHIPODA
Ampithoe valida
Morphology: Small, tube-forming crustacean. Long antennules. Thinner in posterior end than Gammarus sp.
Distribution: New Hampshire and Cape Canaveral on North American east coast, along west coast of North America and Japan.
Habitat: Found associated with green algae on hard substrates in brackish waters.
Life History: Herbivorous grazer. Brooding species. Sedentary crustacean which creates tubes with secretions and pieces of algae, within which they reside.
Reference: Duffy and Hay 1994, Ecology
Gammarus sp.
Morphology: ‘Typical’ amphipod morphology. Body laterally compressed. Six pairs of walking legs, large abdomen, and large coxal plates. Eyes small.
Distribution: Worldwide distributionHabitat: May be infaunal or epifaunal. Generally found in shallow subtidal or intertidal habitats.Life History: Can be predators, scavengers, grazers, or suspension feeders. Many species reside in tubes made of particles of shell or algae, and held together by secretions. Brooding crustaceans. Reference: Ruppert, Fox, and Barnes 2004
Caprella penantis - Skeleton Shrimp
Morphology: Slender, cylindrical body; large hooks on first two sets of appendages (gnathopods), and second set of antenna longer than the first. Small, sharp rostrum and reduced abdomen. Up to 1.3 cm in length.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate marine habitats
Habitat: Intertidal and infralittoral of the Gulf and estuary. Can be very abundant in seagrass beds, estuaries, pilings, and exposed open beaches. Found on the Grice Mudflat.
Life History: Mostly feed by scraping diatoms, epiphytes, and detritus from substrate, plus some filter feeding with antennae. Breeding occurs year round, and females can have several broods of eggs in their one-year lifespan.
Reference: Encyclopedia of Life
Elasmopus levis
Morphology: Distinguishing characteristics include: Second antennae are shorter than the first; deep notch by the back uropod; and big, thick legs.Distribution: East coast of US and the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat: Live on algae in the intertidal zone. Found at Grice Mudflat.
Life History: Graze on micro-epiphytes, algae, and bacteria.
Reference: Encyclopedia of Life, A Guide to Amphipod Taxonomy in Moorehead City, NC.
Order DECAPODA
Alpheus heterochaelis- Snapping shrimp
Morphology: One claw is substantially larger (can be left or right claw). These shrimp are known for making a "snapping" sound with the large claw. Deep notches on the sides of the big claw should be visible. In the field it can be dark green in color with orange and blue coloration on the appendages. Another identifying characteristic is the lack of spines on the carapace edge around the eyes.
Distribution: West Atlantic from North Carolina to Bermuda.
Habitat: Found on Grice Mudflat.
Life History: Predatory shrimp, often using large claw to stun or kill prey. Adults will usually be found in mated male-female pairs.
References: Peterson Field Guide of SE and Caribbean Seashores and Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce.
Picture: SCDNR-SERTC
Callinectes ornatus - Ornate Blue Crab
Morphology: Portunid crab with pair of flat oar shaped swimmerets. Colors vary from olive to dark brown. Gonopods are short but cross each other; four frontal teeth between their eyes. Carapace up to 60 mm.
Distribution: Found from NC to Brazil. Found at Grice Beach.
Habitat: Sand and mud bottoms up to 75 meters. Juveniles are found in shallower waters and river mouths are preferred, in sea grass beds and marshes especially. Temperature tolerance is from 18-31ºC, and they have a high salinity tolerance.
Life History: Spawn year round with adult females moving off-shore to find optimal conditions. Larvae move offshore and complete development on the coastal shelf.
Reference: Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Callinectes sapidus - Atlantic Blue Crab
Morphology: Swimming crab normally associated with its bright blue color around the chelipeds. The body is olive to brown in color and the fifth leg is a paddle like swimming leg. Their gonopods are long and cross one another; they have 2 frontal teeth between their eyes, distinguishing them from other Callinectes spp. Carapace length reaches 250 mm.
Distribution: Western Atlantic from Canada to Argentina and in Europe and Asia. Found at Grice Beach
Habitat: Brackish estuaries and river mouths in the sublittoral zone to 37 meters deep, preferring muddy substrates. They generally grow and molt in temperatures between 15-30ºC and can withstand a wide range of salinities, down to 3 ppt.
Life History: Omnivorous predator and scavenger. Females lay their eggs at sea and can mate only one time during their terminal molt. Larvae are advected offshore to develop before returning to the estuaries for settlement.
Reference: Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Clibanarius vittanus - Thinstripe Hermit Crab
Morphology: Anomuran crab that inhabits a variety of gastropod shells. Greenish to dark brown body with conspicuous gray or white stripes, most notably on the legs.
Distribution: Western Atlantic from Virginia to Brazil and Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat: Sheltered beaches, mud/sand flats, hard substrates, seagrass beds and mangrove forests, oyster beds, and marsh grasses. Depths up to 22m, require warmer water, and can withstand wide salinity gradients.
Life History: Opportunistic omnivores. Juveniles find suitable gastropod shell to survive predators and environmental conditions. Females brood eggs that later develop,settle, and metamorphose into juveniles.
Reference: Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Emerita talpoida - Mole Crab / Sand Crab
Morphology: Anomuran crab. Average 1” long ¾” wide with. Egg-shaped body with a broad abdomen at the front then tapering into the spear-shaped terminal segment (telson). Pale grayish-tan carapace.
Distribution: Atlantic from Cape Cod to Florida and Texas; Mexico.
Habitat: Sandy beaches in the intertidal zone.
Life History: Commonly used for bait by fishermen. These crabs burrow into the sand and filter feed algae and plankton from water passing over them in the swash zone. Females brood bright orange eggs under their telson until they are ready to hatch.
Reference: eNature.com
Eurypanopeus depressus - Depressed Mud Crab
Morphology: Small crab reaching ~ 150mm. Flattened, oval shaped carapace with four lateral teeth on each side. Grey to olive brown. One claw slightly smaller.
Distribution: Massachusetts around Florida to Texas; Dutch West Indies, Uruguay, Bermuda
Habitat: Estuaries, inhabits oyster reefs
Life History: Spawning occurs from April to October, females carry eggs under abdomen and juveniles may reach maturity within a year. Low desiccation tolerance and must take refuge at low tides.
Reference: Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Picture: Texas A&M University - Galveston Identification Guide to Marine Organisms of Texas
Ovalipes ocellatus - Ocellate Lady Crab
Morphology: A medium sized swimming crab with the terminal leg being swimming paddles. The carapace is circular and up to 75 mm in length. There are 5 prominent spines on each side and the carapace can be light lavender with purple to red spots.
Distribution: North West Atlantic down to Florida.
Habitat: Infralittoral in the Gulf and in estuaries found in loose sands at the low water mark and on sandy bottoms offshore.
Life History: This crab is a nocturnal predator that buries itself in the sand feeding mostly on mollusks. It has larval development.
Reference: Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole
Pagurus longicarpus - Long-clawed Hermit Crab
Morphology: Usually distinguished by unequal chelipeds; the right claw is cylindrical and substantially larger than the left. Beige or off-white to greenish-grey or brown in body color.
Distribution: Bay of Fundy to Florida.
Habitat: Occurs in a variety of estuarine and coastal habitats from the intertidal to as deep as 45 m. Frequent oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, mud and sand bottoms, and beach surf zones.
Life History: Omnivorous, generalist scavenger. Reproduction is sexual, internal fertilization is employed, and the sexes are separate. Active primarily during daylight hours.
Reference: Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Palaemonetes pugio- Daggerblade Grass Shrimp
Morphology: Small caridean shrimp. Generally transparent in color. Pinchers on first two sets of walking legs, with second pincher larger and stronger. Can be distinguished from other Palaemonetes sp. by the pointed rostrum and one tooth behind the eye line.
Distribution: Western Atlantic (Canada to Texas) and Gulf of Mexico.Habitat: Found at Grice Mudflat. Also found on seagrass beds.Life History: Generalist forages, but serve ecological role as detritivores. Adults are about 5 cm in size with a life span of 6-13 months.Reference: Peterson Field Guide to Atlantic Seashores and Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. PiercePhoto: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2682.htm
Palaemonetes vulgaris - Marsh Grass Shrimp
Morphology: Small caridean shrimp. Generally transparent in color. Well-developed rostrum with teeth along dorsal and ventral sides. Lack claws on third pair of walking legs. Rarely grow larger than 5 cm in length.
Distribution: East coast of North America.Habitat: Estuarine. Primarily associated with submerged vegetation, oyster reefs, or other hard structures.Life History: Primarily detritivores. Dioecious. Females brood eggs on pleopods. Reference: SCDNR
Panopeus herbstii - Atlantic Mud Crab
Morphology: Fingers on claws are black, and the base of the movable finger of the large claw has a conspicuous white tooth.
Distribution: Massachusetts to South America.
Habitat: Common in mud around oyster reefs and mangrove swamps; generally found in areas that provide protection or places to hide. Found in the Ft. Johnson saltmarsh.
Life History: Mostly carnivorous; important predator of Littorina irrorata in saltmarhses. Preyed upon by larger crustaceans, birds, and fishes. Can be found in large aggregations, or as solitary individuals. Female broods eggs on abdomen, planktonic larvae retained within estuarine waters.
Reference: Encyclopedia of Life
Sesarma reticulatum - Heavy Marsh Crab
Morphology: Small intertidal crab. Square carapace, brownish to olive green in color, with notch running down the middle. Eyes located on stalks on anterior end of carapace. Carapace can be up to 30 mm wide.
Distribution: East and Gulf coast of North America. Cape Cod to Texas.
Habitat: Marshes and mudflats.
Life History: Important consumers of marsh grasses in mudflats. Live in long, inter-connected burrows. Males make rapping sounds on burrows in order to defend it.
Reference: Chesapeake Bay Program Field Guide
Uca minax - Brackish Water Fiddler Crab
Morphology: Largest of fiddler crabs in South Carolina. Body square and brown in color. Joint of male’s large claw red in color. Row of grannules at bottom of upper "finger".
Distribution: East and Gulf coasts of North America
Habitat: Tidal marshes, muddy and sandy substrates with high organic content.
Life History: Important detritivores in muddy intertidal habitats. Dioecious. Like other fiddler crabs, males possess one larger claw, which they use to attract a mate.
Reference: SCDNR
Uca pugilator - Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crab
Morphology: Carapace usually white or yellow in color, males have a purple patch in the middle. Distinguishable from other species by orange base at the end of the big claw. Have many bumps on outer surface of claw but the oblique ridge of bumps is absent.Distribution: East coast, Massachusetts to Florida; Gulf of Mexico; Bahamas.Habitat: Found at Ft. Johnson Saltmarsh. Most abundant in sandy areas.Life History: Adapted to temperate climates; burrows during cold seasons. Reference: Smithsonian Marie Station at Ft. Pierce
Uca pugnax - Marsh Fiddler Crab
Morphology: Sexually dimorphic; Male carapace averages 15 x 23mm and female carapace averages 13 x18mm. Both are dark olive to almost black; males have a royal blue spot in the center of the carapace. Male chelae can grow to half the body weight; female claws are isomorphic. Row of 'bumps' on large claw is present.
Distribution: East coast, Massachusetts to Florida.
Habitat: Saltmarsh burrows along Mid-Atlantic coast. Mostly abundant in muddy habitats.
Life History: Filter feed on detritus, coming out of burrows to feed at low tide. Participate in communal breeding assemblages. Females brood fertilized eggs on their abdominal flap for several months before release.
Reference: Encyclopedia of Life
Order ISOPODA
Sphaeroma quadridentatum - Sea Pill Bug
Morphology: Marine isopod. Highly variable colorations; grey to red. Round body shape. All but one abdominal tergite fused with telson. Capable of rolling into a ball.Distribution: Northwest AtlanticHabitat: Algae and pilings. Shallow water habitats.Life History: Generalist isopod. Brooding species. Live in crevices of hard substrate. Juveniles found to live in burrows created by wood-burrowing congener, S. terebrans, where they are ‘cared for’ by S. terebrans mothers.Reference: Ruppert, Fox, and Barnes 2004, Thiel 2000, J. Nat. Hist.
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