Oval-shaped blue/olive-green carapace with sharp spines along the edges. Legs and claws are blue with little to no red around the joints. Last two legs near the back are flat and paddle-shaped for swimming with six rounded spines between eyes.Juveniles have blue or purple spots on inside of wrists.
Average Maximum Size:
13 cm (5 in) carapace width
Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:
Blue Crabs are differentiated from Lesser Blue Crabs by their larger adult size and the presence of red coloration on their claws. Blue Crabs possess only 4 spines between their eye orbits.
Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:
Juvenile Lesser Blue Crabs will have a purple or blue spot on the inside of their wrists and juvenile Blue Crabs will have pink or red spots on the inside of their wrists. There are six spines between the Lesser Blue Crab eye orbits and four between those of the Blue Crab.
