The blue crab is a species of swimming crab in the family Portunidae, growing to a carapace width of about 23 centimeters, with males showing blue claws tipped in red and a narrow abdomen and females showing orange claws tipped in purple and a broad, rounded abdomen. It is native to the western Atlantic from Cape Cod to Argentina and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and it has also been introduced through ship ballast water to the Baltic, North, Mediterranean and Black Seas. It is of major culinary and economic importance in the United States, especially in Louisiana, the Carolinas, the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware and New Jersey, and it is Maryland's official crustacean and largest commercial fishery, though overfishing and environmental pressure have reduced catches in some areas.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleFarmed or Commercially Raised 1 Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Wikipedia: Callinectes sapidus
Source Wikipedia: Callinectes sapidus
Source Wikipedia: Callinectes sapidus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Callinectes sapidus
Wikipedia- Wikidata Q844839 (P225 taxon name)
article text (diet), EntityId 338930
C. sapidus is an omnivore, eating both plants and animals.
In Biome: Intertidal Zone, Ecology
Although an aquatic predator, C. sapidus will remain in shallow pits in salt marshes at low tide and ambush intertidal prey such as fiddler crabs (e.g., Minuca pugnax) and purple marsh crabs (Sesarma reticulatum) C. sapidus may be able to control populations of the invasive green crab, Carcinus maenas; numbers of the two species are negatively correlated, and C. maenas is not f
In Biome: Salt Marsh, Ecology
Although an aquatic predator, C. sapidus will remain in shallow pits in salt marshes at low tide and ambush intertidal prey such as fiddler crabs (e.g., Minuca pugnax) and purple marsh crabs (Sesarma reticulatum) C. sapidus may be able to control populations of the invasive green crab, Carcinus maenas; numbers of the two species are negatively correlated, and C. maenas is not f
In Biome: Estuary, Reproduction
Prepubertal females migrate to the upper reaches of estuaries, where males typically reside as adults.
View the Source 2. GBIF Species API
3. NatureServe Explorer: Callinectes sapidus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "GNR"
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Callinectes sapidus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITESQuote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
5. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Callinectes sapidus
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 2225646, category fieldQuote, GBIF taxon key 2225646, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Wikidata: Blue Crab
Child Taxon Of: Decapoda, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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