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The Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus

The Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus. Callinectes- beautiful swimmer Sapidus-savory. Member of the swimming crab family Aggressive, bottom-dwelling predator and “keystone” species Also make up the most productive commercial and recreational fisheries. Sexually dimorphic. Taxonomy.

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The Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus

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  1. The Blue CrabCallinectes sapidus Callinectes- beautiful swimmer Sapidus-savory

  2. Member of the swimming crab family • Aggressive, bottom-dwelling predator and “keystone” species • Also make up the most productive commercial and recreational fisheries

  3. Sexually dimorphic

  4. Taxonomy • Kingdom: Animalia • Phylum: Arthropoda (spiders, insects) • Class: Crustacea (lobsters, shrimp) • Order: Decapoda (ten-footed) • Family: Portunidae (swimming crabs) • Close relatives of the shrimp and lobster

  5. Growth and development occurs when an animal molts (sheds its rigid exoskeleton) • Before molting, a new shell is formed underneath the old exoskeleton, which then loosens and is cast off

  6. Pre-copulation dance

  7. Habitat • Extends along the Atlantic Coast from Nova Scotia through South America • Live in estuaries and need brackish (salt and freshwater mix) and high salinity waters for their complex life cycle • Loves SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) to hide in and buries in the deep, muddy parts of the estuary in the winter

  8. General Facts • Diet: Omnivore, opportunistic (taking advantage of what is available), which also means they will eat each other if they have to • Average lifespan in the wild: 1 to 3 years • Size: 4 in (10.2 cm) long; 9 in (23 cm) wide Size relative to a tea cup

  9. Threats • Habitat loss • Degraded water quality • Overfishing

  10. Economic Importance • 1/3 of the nation’s catch of blue crabs come from the Chesapeake • Blue crabs have the highest value of any Chesapeake commercial fishery • In 2000, the harvest was valued at $55 million • Also major recreational fishery

  11. Cool Stuff! • Crabs can release their claws (Autotomy) and regenerate new ones • Males are called “jimmies”, females called “sooks” • Can survive out of water for several days as long as its moist and not a stressful environment • Use chemoreception to find food

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