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Upogebia pugettensis (Dana, 1852)
Blue Mud Shrimp
Family: Upogebiidae

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #2080)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Upogebia pugettensis in British Columbia in British Columbia

Species Information

Carapace with anterior dorsal area rough and setose with rest smooth and membranous. Chelipeds setose, stout with small thumb and stout dactyl. Walking legs stout, slightly compressed and setose. Abdomen with narrow pleura and pubescence on 3rd, 4th and 5th segments. Male without pleopods on 1st segment. Large and foliaceous pleopods on segments 2 to 5. Female with uniramous pleopods on segment 1 and foliaceous on 2 to 5. All except the last pair serve to carry eggs. Telson wider than long.

Size

Total length: male 150 mm, female 105 mm.

Colour

Considerable variation in intensity and distribution of colour. Carapace with anterior part blue and brown, laterally grey or white with reticulations of blue, orange or yellow. Abdomen brown with blue and green reticulations. Tail fan with a symmetrical pattern of blue and green on sixth segment, bright yellow with blue ridges on uropods and telson orange margined with green. Pleopods orange. Chelipeds: ischium orange, merus and carpus yellow and blue with pale brown setae. Hand blue with tip of dactyl white. Eyestalk orange, cornea black.

Habitat


Common in burrows in muddy sand, but are also found in most sheltered beaches as well, in sand or gravel, particularly under rocks where sufficient suitable material is available to construct semi-permanent burrows. Y-shaped burrows with several openings on the surface are made.

Distribution

Range

Valdez Narrows, Alaska (60°4’N, 146°40’W), to San Quentin Bay, Mexico; intertidal.
Distribution In British Columbia

Common in suitable habitats.

Comments


Of some economic importance due to burrowing activities. On certain types of oyster beds, young oysters can be smothered by the mud displaced by these animals. Also dykes designed to retain a layer of sea water may be riddled with burrows through which water drains at low tide.

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.

General References