Photo: (c) Katherine Parys, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.
Habitat
Sandy or muddy coastal bottoms; sheltered shallows for juveniles and beaches for spawning
Habitat zone
Coastal shallows and the water’s edge; adults also occur deeper
Viewing activities
Beach / tidepool
What to look for
A broad, horseshoe-shaped front shell and a long, rigid tail distinguish this marine arthropod.
When to look
The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.
WHERE HAS IT BEEN RECORDED?
Explore the featured regions
These dated records show past presence. They do not establish today’s abundance, guarantee a sighting, or describe the species’ entire range.
Chesapeake Bay
Recorded here
15,036 OBIS records in the regional query · snapshot 2026-09-12.
Individual records in this sample do not supply habitat or depth. Use the species reference above for biological context.
