Blue Crab | 水產百科網

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Description

Also known as the Chesapeake blue crab or the Atlantic blue crab, these crabs are strong swimmers—largely due to their fifth pair of legs, which are shaped like paddles. They are striking to spot with their often bright-blue claws and olive-colored carapace (shell). The claws on the adult female blue crab are tipped with red. Males can be seven to eight inches (18 to 20 centimeters) across, while females are a bit smaller in size.

Range

The blue crab is widely distributed along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from Nova Scotia through the Gulf of Mexico and as far south as Uruguay. It also has been introduced in other parts of the world. This crab inhabits estuaries and brackish coastal lagoons. Predators include the Kemps ridley sea turtle[1] and the whooping crane[2].