Back of wider-than-long carapace is olive green to brown, yellow to white underneath, white spot on each side of lower half of carapace, iridescent patches at base of lateral spines (longest spines at the maximum width of its carapace); legs purple or brown with purple tint; claws are long and slender; tips of claws are blue in males, in females white with brown spot on moveable tip of claw; last pair of legs flattened into paddles.
Average Maximum Size:
7.5 cm (3 in) carapace width
Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:
Iridescent Swimming Crabs have much longer slender claws, the purplish color and the color patterns on the fingers (blue in male, white with brown spot on movable finger in females) compared to Atlantic or Lesser Blue Crab.
Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:
Range:
Massachusetts to Florida, Gulf of Mexico to Brazil
Habitat:
Shallow waters, estuaries, over mud or shell bottoms.
