Sometimes an eighth zoeal stage is observed. Perception Channels: visual tactile chemicalĬallinectes sapidus usually goes through seven zoeal stages and 1 postlarval, or megalopal stage. The crabs will use color vision and color in mate choice with males having a preference for females with red claw dactyls.Ĭommunication Channels: visual tactile chemical sapidus is aggressive and cannibalistic, visual cues may allow them to quickly evaluate potential mates from safer distances. sapidus, visual cues may function more rapidly and over a longer distance than chemical cues. Blue Crabs migrate to deeper water in winter (Gosner 1978).Ĭallinectes sapidus is both colorful and highly visually responsive, yet almost all studies of their courtship have focused on chemical cues. Females remain in higher salinity portions of an estuary system, especially for egg laying (Lippson and Lippson 1997). The Blue Crab ( Callinectes sapidus) is especially common in estuaries, where it ranges into fresh water, but may be found offshore to at least 36 meters (Gosner 1978). Other Callinectes species in the Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico region also have 6 frontal teeth (4, not counting inner orbitals), although the inner pair may be very reduced. Callinectes similis is a common estuarine crab south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (U.S.A.), ranging into fresh water from Cape May, New Jersey, south to Cape Hatteras it is usually recorded from depths of at least 9 meters or more and salinities of about 15 ppt (Gosner 1978 Pollock 1998). It also reaches a size of only about 125 mm across (vesus 225 mm for C. sapidus has just 4 (or 2, not counting the inner orbitals)(Gosner 1978 Pollock 1998). Callinectes similis is quite similar in appearance, but has 6 teeth along the front of the carapace between the eyes (often more technically described as "4 teeth, not counting the inner orbital teeth"), while C. Several other Callinectes species overlap in range with the Blue Crab ( C. Sexual Dimorphism: male larger sexes colored or patterned differently male more colorful Other Physical Features: ectothermic heterothermic Callinectes sapidus grows to adult size after 18 to 20 molts. By the second year, maturity is reached at carapace lengths of 120-170 mm. Growth is rapid during the first summer, with crabs growing from 70-100 mm CL. Callinectes sapidus can grow to 25 cm in carapace length (CL), with carapace width being approximately twice the length. Females have broad triangular or rounded aprons and red fingers on the chelae, whereas in the male the abdominal flap, or apron, is shaped like an inverted "T". To accommodate swimming, the fifth leg is adapted to a paddle-like shape, as is the same with other portunids. The remainder of the body is shaded an olive brown color.
Blue Crabs have also been introduced accidentally or intentionally in Hawaii, Europe, Japan, and Africa.Ĭallinectes sapidus is easily identified by its body color which is generally a bright blue along the frontal area, especially along the chelipeds (the appendages bearing a "chela" or pincher-like claw). The Blue Crab ( Callinectes sapidus) is found from Cape Cod to Uruguay, sometimes north at least to Massachusetts Bay (Gosner 1978). The Greek and Latin roots of its scientific name translate to "savory beautiful swimmer". The Blue Crab is a commercially important species and is popular with recreational crabbers as well. It is a beautifully colored crustacean with bright blue claws-the mature female's claws are tipped in red-and an olive to bluish green carapace. The Blue Crab ( Callinectes sapidus) is found from Cape Cod to Uruguay, occurring especially in estuaries.
Callinectes sapidus (from the Greek calli- = "beautiful", nectes = "swimmer", and Latin sapidus = "savory"), the Chesapeake blue crab or Atlantic blue crab, or simply blue crab, is a species of crab native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and introduced internationally.
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