E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Pugettia gracilis Dana, 1851
Graceful Kelp Crab
Family: Majidae

Species account author: Josephine Hart.
Extracted from Crabs and their relatives of British Columbia.
Introduction to the Crabs, Shrimps and Crayfish of BC
Photo of species

© Kathryn Clouston  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #78058)
E-Fauna BC Static Map
Distribution of Pugettia gracilis in British Columbia
Details about map content are available here.

Species Information

Carapace with hepatic area greatly expanded. Ischium of outer maxillipeds and palp each with a longitudinal groove. Mature male with large cheliped; merus and carpus with 3 or 4 longitudinal sharp ridges; palm large and swollen.
Size

Carapace: male 53 x 34 mm, female 35 x 28 mm.
Colour

Carapace, chelipeds and walking legs may be blue, brownish-green, kelp brown, red, pink, orange or opaque white in various combinations. Abdomen usually brown with 6th segment and telson white. Fingers dark grey or blue with orange tips and teeth.

Habitat


Common among eelgrass, kelp and encrusting algae in intertidal and subtidal. Carapace “decorated” with bits of algae and other objects.

Distribution

Range

Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to Monterey Bay, California; intertidal to 140 m.
Distribution In British Columbia

Common intertidally particularly in sheltered waters. On outer coasts P. richii seems to be the dominant form although P. gracilis is present.

Comments


The dark grey fingers and orange tips and teeth serve to distinguish living P. gracilis from P. richii which has violet or reddish fingers and white tips and teeth.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Photo Sources

Flickr Image Search
Google Image Search
Images from Calphoto

General References

Google Scholar Search
Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2025-07-10 4:40:37 PM]
Disclaimer: The information contained in an E-Fauna BC atlas pages is derived from expert sources as cited (with permission) in each section. This information is scientifically based.  E-Fauna BC also acts as a portal to other sites via deep links.  As always, users should refer to the original sources for complete information.  E-Fauna BC is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the original information.

© E-Fauna BC 2021: An initiative of the Spatial Data Lab, Department of Geography, UBC