Upogebia pugettensis

The Blue Mud Shrimp

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocymata
Infraorder Thalassinidea
Family Callianassidae
Genus Upogebia
Species pugettensis

Description: Can reach a length of 15 cm; color is a tannish-gray to bluish-gray with light colored speckles on the upper surface; body is poorly calcified; claws are of equal size; claws and walking legs are very hairy.

Habitat: Found in burrows on muddy substratum.

Natural History: It builds permanent, Y-shaped burrows in the mud or muddy sand of intertidal areas. It uses its abdominal appendages called pleopods to fan water through the burrow and feeds on the detritus that it strains out. It does not build a hill around its tunnel entrance. Pseudopythina compressa, a small commensal clam, is often attached to the shrimpÕs pleopods.