Maryland Blue Crab, Chesapeake Crab, Atlantic Blues
Callinectes sapidus
Description:
Oval-shaped blue/olive-green carapace with sharp spines along the edges. Legs and claws are blue with red around the joints. Last two legs near the back are flat and paddle-shaped for swimming. Four small, rounded spines between eyes.Juveniles will have red/orange/pink spots on the inside of their wrists.
Average Maximum Size:
23 cm (9 in) carapace width
Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:
Lesser Blue Crabs have little to no red around the joints of their legs and claws and six rounded spines between eyes. Compared to the Blue Crab adult Lesser Blue Crabs will be smaller with a max size typically no more than around 5 inches in carapace width.
Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:
Juvenile Blue Crabs will have pink or red spots on the inside of their wrists and juvenile Lesser Blue Crabs will have a purple or blue spot on the inside of their wrists. There are four spines between Blue Crab eye orbits and six between those of the Lesser Blue Crab.
Range:
Nova Scotia to northern Argentina
Habitat:
Juveniles can be found in seagrass beds and oyster reefs. Adults can be found in saltwater, brackish, and even tidal freshwater with sandy and muddy bottoms
