Betaeus harrimani Rathbun, 1904
Common name(s): Northern hooded shrimp
|Betaeus harrimani from Royal Palm State Beach, Long Beach, CA. About 3 cm long.|
|(Photo by: Dave Cowles April, 1997)|
How to Distinguish from Similar Species: B. setosus has an indentation on the frontal edge of the carapace and the hand of its propodus is about as wide as long.
Geographical Range: Sitka, Alaska to Dana Point, CA
Depth Range: Intertidal, probably also subtidal
Habitat: Under low intertidal rocks, logs, and debris, mostly on protected shores; on mud flats, especially in the burrow of Upogebia pugettensis and Neotrypaea (formerly Callianassa) californiensis.
Biology/Natural History: This is an actively moving and usually well-camouflaged shrimp. Eggs are bright green. Females in British Columbia carry eggs from June to September.
Morris et al., 1980
O'Clair and O'Clair, 1998
In this side view, the hood that covers the eyes can be seen. Animal total length is 3 cm. Photo by Dave Cowles, July 2005. Captured in a Upogebia pugettensis burrow.
Photos of features used for identifying this species:
All 5 "walking" legs (pereopods). Leg 1 = chelae, leg 2 is slender, and the carpus is subdivided into sections (visible in the picture, characteristic of all Alpheids). Legs 3-5 are for walking.
There is no rostrum nor indentation on B. harrimani--the anterior end of the carapace is rounded.