Morphology: Its beautifully colored crustacean with bright blue claws--the mature female's claws are tipped in red--and an olive to bluish green carapace.
Biology: Males and females are easily distinguished by the shape of the abdomen and by color differences in the chelipeds, or claws. The abdomen is long and slender in males, but wide and rounded in mature females.
Importance: The blue crab is an integral player in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The effect of blue crab on populations of their benthic prey species, such as soft clam; and the effect on the fishery as well as the effect of the fishery on the blue crab population itself. Due to the economic and iconic value of the blue crab, it is considered a keystone species influencing many aspects of the Bay's ecosystem.
Fast Facts: 1. Blue crabs are found in brackish coastal lagoons and estuaries from Nova Scotia, through the Gulf of Mexico, and as far south as Uruguay. 2. They feed on almost anything they can get hold of, including mussels, snails, fish, plants, and even carrion and smaller blue crabs. 3. Large males can reach 9 inches in shell width. 4. Female blue crabs only mate once in their life 5. Blue crabs are preyed upon by red drum, croaker, striped bass, and other blue crabs.