Kelp Crabs

 

Tidepool Still Life

I hadn't been to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in the month of January since 2011, so I thought I'd check it out. Much of the reef at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve was actually closed, as it always seems to be when I've visited the last couple of years. They close it for the harbor seals, and keep it closed even when there are no seals present. Just south of there, Moss Beach Cove is the next best thing, and that's where I ended up.

The very first tidepools I encountered were full of kelp crabs, maybe half a dozen in a couple of small pools. I must have been their first visitor because they'd been calmly going about their business until they saw me. Then it was scuttle this way and scuttle that way, trying to wedge themselves under rocks too small for the job. By the time I left a couple hours later, after finding much beauty but little of critterly interest farther out on the reef, the crabs had evidently found some worthy hideaways.

Sea Glass & Limpet Shell

Kelp Crab in a Pool with Coralline Algae

I wish I'd been sneakier because it looked like a couple of the crabs had been munching on seaweed just before they spotted me and scuttled for cover.

This old shellback has some coralline algae growing on its distinctive carapace.

A couple of the crabs only had one large pincer arm. I wondered if they lost the other one in battle with other crabs, or in some other way.

I was interested in this golden-colored turban snail because it was actually occupied by the mollusk rather than a hermit crab.

I didn't realize it was a snail until I picked it up, and then I watched it for a minute after I put it down. This is the snail coming out of its hideout, grasping the rock with its gastro-foot, then pulling itself upright again.

All the kelp crabs were about as close to shore as they could get without climbing up out of the water. Farther out, I didn't see a single one.

I saw a couple of these tiny pink shells, but this one was occupied by a hermit crab rather than a snail.

Limpet in Colorful Surroundings

This purple shore crab had moxy.

Although it did finally retreat from the top of its rock. I was surprised the great blue heron, or a gull, or even a black turnstone, hadn't made a meal out of it.

I can never resist photographing sea anemone tentacles.

My second small abalone shell of the day.

A mossy chiton, bedded down for the duration.

This looked mighty suspicious, and when I gently tried to pick up the little whelk or dogwinkle or whatever it is, my suspicion was confirmed. It had probably drilled a hole in that little limpet in order to devour it.

Hermit Tracks

Gastro Tracks

A Ridiculously Green Anemone

I envied my sister for being at Hanauma Bay today, but Moss Beach Cove was pretty nice too, even without a snorkel.

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