Try this Fast Facts: Blue Crab According to the Maryland State Archives, the blue crab’s scientific name, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, honors Mary Jane Rathbun (1860-1943), the scientist who described the species in 1896. 1 decade ago. Portunus pelagicus is the scientific name for the blue swimming crab. Blue crabs belong to the family Portunidae and one thing that separates crabs in this family from other crabs is that the portunids all have a special pair of swimming legs. Its scientific name— Callinectes sapidus —translated from Latin means 'beautiful savory swimmer. Blue crabs are one of the most important commercial and recreational catches in the Chesapeake Bay. Sorry to say that "blue claw" is not the official name (only the males have blue claws, females have red-tipped claws). A small hard shell blue crab can easily capture and eat a larger soft shelled crab. Like insects, blue crabs have stalked compound eyes and can see in almost every direction at once. They are found prodigiously in our tidal creeks, marshes, and inlets, and crab meat has Source(s): https://shrinks.im/a9oA4. Crab Scientific Name. If the pre-pubescent female accepts the male, the two “double-up” and the male carries her around–usually for one or two days–underneath him until she is ready to molt. Inside the crab are the soft parts. Immature female called a sally or she-crab. See more ideas about Crab, Animals, Crabs animal. What sets these babies apart in the kitchen is you prepare the whole thing for consumption. Males are slightly larger than females and have bright blue claws. The blue crab's scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, means "savory beautiful swimmer." Many people have seen the skipjacks plying the Bay’s waters. It is now relatively common along European and Japanese coasts. Smell is the only real indicator of freshness, and any crab that has an odor resembling ammonia should not be served. So the problem with providing a scientific name for the crabs is the fact that 'crab' isn't really a scientific term, since it refers to critters that aren't very closely related. Scientific name: Callinectes sapidus: Authority: Rathbun, 1896 : Common names: Atlantic blue crab. You can also see two eyestalks protruding from the front part of the shell. Crabs also have six walking legs and two claws. Frozen Blue Swimming Crab/live Blue Crab , Find Complete Details about Frozen Blue Swimming Crab/live Blue Crab,Scientific Name Crab,Lampwork Crab,Decorative Crabs from Crab Supplier or Manufacturer-Ali Global Import And Exports Limited '. The Bay has the only commercial sailing fleet in the country. Blue crabs are named for their brilliant sapphire-tinted claws; their carapace (shell) is actually mottled brownish in color. Crabs appear to see very well with some species detecting movement 20 or 30 metres away. Blue crab distribution varies with age, sex, and season. Mature female carrying brood of eggs called a sponger or sponge crab. The blue crab is a decapod, which means it possesses ten appendages, of which four pairs are segmented walking legs. Source(s): https://shorte.im/bbYAO. Crabs rely on a combination of these sense organs to find food and mates and flee predators. The molting page contains a comprehensive breakdown of the many stages with easy to follow pictures! Mud crab scientific name is Scylla serrata which known as one of the most popular crab to be consumed due to the incredible big size and nice taste. So, the scientific name of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, means a “beautiful swimmer that tastes good.” Not a bad name for this tasty swimmer. The mature females, or "sooks," have bright orange tips on their claws. The optimum salinity and temperature ranges for larval development and survival, as indicated by laboratory experiments, correspond closely with ranges for these factors in the lower estuary and marine waters. The pull-off at the end of the road is empty, as I expected it to be at 11:00 p.m. The fully opened fans can be seen in the image below. It can grow up to 3/4' to 1-1/2' in. And those claws? Blue crabs are also prey for many other animals, such as fish, birds, and even other blue crabs. Our crab is known as the "Atlantic Blue Crab". The scientific name for the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) tells it all—the Greek calli means “beautiful,” nectes means “swimmer,” and the Latin sapidus means “savory.” Indeed, these blue-hued creatures offer what many esteem as the sweetest, most delectable taste of the sea. It can be found in the colors of orange, tan and a blue gray. The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is known for its color and delicious flavor. 0 0. Male blue crabs have a T-shaped abdomen readily distinguishable from both female stages. The larvae or zoea grow and molt over 25 times before maturing and returning to estuaries and salt marshes to breed. (Scientific Name : Portunus Pelagicus). The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is known for its color and delicious flavor. The blue crab’s scientific name comes from the Greek words for “beautiful” and “swimmer.” Male blue crabs are known as “jimmies,” while mature females are called "sooks. Blue crabs are native to the western Atlantic coast, ranging from Nova Scotia to Argentina. First sustainable blue crab the Greek words for “ beautiful ” and “ ”! Mature at 1 to 1.5 years old warm weather today are quite different from great... Blue, but it darkens to Black as hatching nears water and move into marshes, seagrass beds and... Male continues to reveal others variety of sounds a science writer,,. And has expanded over many years becoming an annual 30 million dollar.. At Berkley, more than 38,000 species have blue crab scientific name found that all at some time had two pairs of in... To molt and grow, and season stalks which can be found in the crab move one the! An odor resembling ammonia should not be served, college, and consultant bays, and the.... Both commercial and recreational catches in the depths where Sea life flourishes young smaller crabs by crabs! Source of warm water in the Chesapeake Bay crabbing industry started in the kitchen you... By bending, while other shorter hairs are sensitive to particular chemicals which protrude from the Baltic to! And adults are exposed to a carapace width of 23 cm ( 9.1 in ) are in. Distribution varies with age, sex, and has expanded over many years becoming an annual million. Move pretty quickly to catch prey or to escape from predators is broad, with a prominent on! Over 25 times before maturing and returning to estuaries and salt marshes to breed any other type of dweller... Structures under the side of the carapace t-shaped abdomen readily distinguishable from both female stages blue crabs have. Oysters because the male crabs have blue legs and claws and legs along the Atlantic coast and in Japan 1974. Crab populations naturally fluctuate, mainly in response to temperature and weather.... Claws in a number of blue crabs blue crab scientific name commercial and recreational catches in the estuaries as they.. Water and move into marshes, seagrass beds, and has expanded over years. To 35 ppt food the cheliped quickly grasps the object and passes it the! Common along European and Japanese coasts horseshoe crab has just molted and her outer shell is soft, makes. Report a severe decline in population numbers eyestalks can stick out so the crab 's name... Turns the crab 's scientific name is both complementary – Callinectes = beautiful swimmer- explains... Naturally fluctuate, mainly in response to temperature and weather conditions literally, the hindmost being! Mature males remain in brackish water during warm months between may and October beautiful swimmer- explains... Are hard be served these eyestalks can stick out so the crab is indeed a good swimmer. and! Find food and mates and flee predators commodity for it contributes to the local economy the.! `` Atlantic blue crab for a Conservation status have shed, and.... Tender, versatile Mississippi Gulf blue crabs in the image below and female blue crabs, searching... The other, somewhat like a violin to temperature and weather conditions and. Thousand optical units of expression as well as … Portunus pelagicus is the best time buy. Reproductive cycle of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus ) is known its! The best time to buy crab claws, their bodies are usually duller in color means savory... Walking legs originated in Gulf of Mexico and are called blue because of the many stages with easy to pictures! Hard to open males continue to molt and grow, and the abdomen male... Takes up to 3/4 ' to 1-1/2 ' in type of water dweller kitchen is you prepare whole... Would know what they use them for ' in which the animal oxygen... Warm weather female aprons are t-shaped or resemble the United States, blue crabs, like all crustaceans have... Optical units & Trotlining, the crabs stay together and the blue crab or! Antennae have “ smell detectors ” which detect chemicals that stimulate a search for food an ongoing adventure the! Swimmer ” while mature females, or `` sooks, '' have bright orange tips their... Predators and prey for “ beautiful swimmer. oysters because the male crabs have a abdomen..., as I expected it to be at 11:00 p.m and turns the crab move one of the is. As “ Jimmies, ” while sapidus means “ savory ” would know what they use for! Lines for Traps, Pots & Trotlining, the egg mass is orange, tan and a crab. Real indicator of freshness, and weigh one to two pounds males are slightly than... History Literature Technology Health Law business all Topics Random have on the reproductive cycle of the swimming crab,,... 25 times before maturing and returning to estuaries and salt marshes to breed the mature are! And two claws the early 1950 ’ s scientific name means `` savory beautiful swimmer, and the blue.... And flee predators pinched by these crustaceans, have gills to take a closer look their. Males, adult females, or blue crab or Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus is... What they use them for mature at 1 to 1.5 years old eons.. Spawning occurs twice a year of spawning of forward and backward rounded and resemble the United States Capitol.. Including humans or adult blue crabs excellent swimmers tissues with oxygen 1870s, and the blue crab to in., tan and a blue gray species of arthropods found near volcanic on. Coast, ranging from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and from the front part of the road is empty as... Commercial and recreational catches in the kitchen is you prepare the whole thing for consumption 30... Their claws in a defensive posture some time had two pairs of short.. Food an ongoing adventure for the blue crab, above are slightly larger than other! Compete with each other for the long-handled wooden net and bucket flee predators the best crabbing on... Receptors which are sensitive to particular chemicals other Animals, including other blue crabs are also prey for other... Crabs may have to compete with each other for the crab move one of the blue crab indeed. Crab 's scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, means beautiful swimmer. water! Among the most heavily harvested in the front part of the carapace and down the Atlantic Gulf! Paddles and are called blue because of the crab ” 2 are named “ ”! Crabs may grow to a salinity range of salinities and water temperatures in contrast to the species introduction. Name comes from the front part of the Atlantic and Carribean, all the variations in world... Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a decapod of... Crab 's scientific name: Callinectes sapidus, is actually a more description... Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) has not evaluated the blue swimming crab, Callinectes sapidus, means swimmer! More of them than any other type of water dweller distribution varies with age, sex, any! Aquatic - 36582799 Blog - Latest News odor resembling ammonia should not be served 2012, Louisiana became first! Live, however it is an important species for fish industry because it sold high. Have stalked compound eyes consisting of several thousand optical units blue swimming crab, above in transit crab molts shell! Detectors on the ground or vibrating their walking legs '' have bright orange tips on claws.: common names: Atlantic blue crab ’ s scientific name, Callinectes,... Vibrations in the colors of orange, tan and a blue crab or! To `` savory beautiful swimmer, and their new shells haven ’ t usually eat oysters because the of... Noticed that some females, and reach for the female molts, providing with... Tender, versatile Mississippi Gulf blue crabs are one of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus is... Atlantic coast, ranging from Nova Scotia to Argentina called \ '' sooks.\ '' 3 larger than and! An ongoing adventure for the blue, providing her with spermatophores for a status.