Arthropoda – Blue Crab (Crustacean)

1. Arthropoda – Blue Crab(Crustacean) By: Mitch Joyce

2. Classification • Common Name • Blue Crab • Scientific Name • Callinectessapidus • Kingdom Name • Animalia • Phylum Name • Arthropoda • Class Name • Malacostraca

3. Common Characteristics • Advantage • Fifth leg is a paddle-like shape used for swimming • Symmetry • Bilateral • Body Cavity • Coelomate • Type of Organism • Free living • Omnivore • Aquatic • Segmentation

4. Life Cycle • Life Span • 1 to 3 years • Most are harvested before they are able to grow old • Offspring • Typically 2 million eggs • Only 1% will survive to become an adult • Reproduction • Sexually

5. Habitat • Where they live • Western Atlantic Ocean • Introduced to Europe and Asia • Niche • Major predator of benthic invertebrates and small fish • It is a scavenger • Cleans up pieces of dead animals

6. Special Characteristics • Physical • Pair of flat, oar shaped legs • Swimmerets • Olive green on back, white belly, blue and red on legs • Behavior • Typically walk sideways • Use by Humans • High value fishery species • 217.3 million pounds harvested - $142.5 million • Fishery in Chesapeake Bay is for recreational and commercial use

7. Video • Blue Crab eating a clam • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJUG8UvY-lk&feature=player_detailpage

8. Sources • Davis, Branda, and Glenn Davis. "Life History and Management of Blue Crabs." Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 12 Aug. 2008. Web. 14 May 2011. <http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/articles/bluecrablhmgt.html>. • Hill, K. "Callin_sapidu." Smithsonian Marine Station (SMS) at Fort Pierce. 14 May 2011. Web. 14 May 2011. <http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Callin_sapidu.htm>. • Turner, H. "BLUECRAB.INFO - Blue Crab Life Cycle." BLUECRAB.INFO - The Blue Crab Archives. 14 May 2011. Web. 14 May 2011. <http://www.bluecrab.info/spawning.html>. • "Blue Crabs of the South Atlantic Bight." Www.dnr.sc.gov. Web. 14 May 2011. <http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/sertc/Blue%20Crab%20SOM.pdf>.