The shell, greenish on top and dingy white below, is about 7.5 cm (3 inches) long and 15 to 18 cm wide; the legs are bluish. Why do Kingdom Animalia animals. However, habitat loss and nutrient loading are some of the larger issues faced by this species. The Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus), or the Atlantic Blue Crab, is a species of crab native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and introduced internationally. Fossil records are few for many species. Blue crab, (genus Callinectes), any of a genus of crustaceans of the order Decapoda (phylum Arthropoda), particularly Callinectes sapidus and C. hastatus, common edible crabs of the western Atlantic coast that are prized as delicacies. Blue King Crab. The claws on the adult female blue crab are tipped with red. the Atlantic or Chesapeake Blue Crab and the Snow Crab. Yet, they all belong to the scientific order Decapoda, which comes from the Greek words “deka” meaning ten, and “pous” (poda), meaning feet. Have them identify what characteristics cause the blue crab to be classified in the Order that they are, and name one other member of this order. Callinectes sapidus is a decapod crab of the swimming crab family Portunidae. Habitat There is only one other species of soldier crab common in Sydney. Tender leaves, fruits, berries, flowers, beetles and other large insects are the blue land crab’s preferred diet, while the blackback land crab occasionally enjoys animal matter found near the burrows. Species Callinectes sapidus blue crab Callinectes sapidus: information (1) Callinectes sapidus: pictures (4) Species Cambarus bartonii Appalachian brook crayfish The Soldier Crab is quite distinctive with its small, round, blue body on long jointed legs with purple stripes. Kingdom Animalia animals. The genus Callinectes is distinguished from other portunid crabs by the lack of an internal spine on the carpus (the middle segment of the claw), as well as by the T-shape of the male abdomen. shrimps, crabs, lobsters, water fleas, and relatives. Other commercially important taxa include Portunus pelagicus, several species in the genus Chionoecetes, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), Charybdis spp., Cancer pagurus, the Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister), and Scylla serrata, each of which yields more than 20,000 tonnes annually. Status in World Register of Marine Species Accepted name: Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 Scientific synonyms and common names Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896: 352.-- Sakai, 1976b: 29, pl. 1.-- Muraoka, 1998: 33. Species Callinectes sapidus blue crab. As it marches around feeding, it moulds the sand into numerous pellets, sorting through it for organic matter. The horseshoe crab has left numerous fossil records but the swimming crab, such as the blue crab, has left far fewer. The fifth pair of legs is flattened for swimming. Classification. Males and females are easily distinguished by the shape of the abdomen (known as the "apron") and by color differences in the cheli… Blue crabs may grow to a carapace width of 23 cm (9.1 in). Their usual habitat is muddy shores, bays, and estuaries.… The Blue crab is an omnivore, eating both plants and animals. Blue crabs are not threatened or endangered. Conservation. The chelae, or pincers, are large and somewhat unequal in size. Atlantic Blue Crab Trap/Pot Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries. Callinectes sapidus is a decapod crustacean of the family Portunidae, which includes the swimming crabs. The crabs are scavengers, feeding on the bodies of dead animals. Corrections? Species Callinectes sapidus blue crab Callinectes sapidus: information (1) Callinectes sapidus: pictures (4) Species Cambarus bartonii Appalachian brook crayfish Classification Additional information: Find blue crab information at Encyclopedia of Life; blue crab. Blue crab, (genus Callinectes ), any of a genus of crustaceans of the order Decapoda (phylum Arthropoda), particularly Callinectes sapidus and C. hastatus, common edible crabs of the western Atlantic coast that are prized as delicacies. 4, fig. Southeast. Mencken a “great big outdoor protein factory,” still affords a precarious living…. Callinectes sapidus: information (1) Callinectes sapidus: pictures (4) Species Carcinus maenas green crab. Blue Crabs of the South Atlantic Bight Native and Occasional species of Callinectes (or, when isn’t a blue crab a blue crab?) The blue king crab, Paralithodes platypus, lives near St. Matthew Island, the Pribilof Islands, and the Diomede Islands, Alaska, and there are populations along the coasts of Japan and Russia. This is the smaller Mictyris platycheles. Cardisoma guanhumi Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Infraorder: Brachyura Family: Gecarcinidae Genus: Cardisoma Species: C. guanhumi Binomial name Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille, 1828 Cardisoma guanhumi, also known as the blue land crab, is a species of land crab found in tropical and subtopical … By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The largest catch is the blue crab, which arrives on dinner tables in such forms as crab soup, crab cakes, steamed hard-shell crabs, soft-shell crabs, and crab imperial. U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals. The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, was named by Dr. Rathbun. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It is easily identified by its body color which is generally a bright blue … Classification Species armatus Genus Portunus Family Portunidae Infraorder Brachyura Order Decapoda Class Malacostraca Subphylum Crustacea Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia; Size … Omissions? ... species of the Blue Crab. All rights reserved. Updates? Also known as the Chesapeake blue crab or the Atlantic blue crab, these crabs are strong swimmers—largely due to their fifth pair of legs, which are shaped like paddles. BioKIDS is sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative. Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthopoda Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Portunidae Genus: Portunus Species: Sapidus Common Name: Blue Crab Morphology: Blue Crabs are segmented and have bilaterally symmetry.They have a bluish color hard shell. Callinectes sapidus: information (1) Callinectes sapidus: pictures (4) Species Callinectes similis lesser blue crab. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Subclass: Eumalacostraca Superorder: Eucarida Order: Decapoda Suborder: Pleocyemata Infraorder: Brachyura Sea Crabs. Encyclopedia article covering the order, with details of anatomy, classification, and photos of sample species. New England/Mid-Atlantic. Blue crab, (genus Callinectes), any of a genus of crustaceans of the order Decapoda (phylum Arthropoda), particularly Callinectes sapidus and C. hastatus, common edible crabs of the western Atlantic coast that are prized as delicacies. Since there are so many different kinds of crabs, they have thousands of common names, such as king crab, horseshoe crab, blue crab, snow crab, coconut crab, and more. Level of scientific classification; below Kingdom and above Class Thin, tapered claw used for tearing Blue crab that is 3-6 days from molting Organisms that cannot swim or are very weak swimmers and are at the mercy of the currents Blue king crabs from the Pribilof Islands are the largest of all the king crabs, sometimes exceeding 18 lb … It is a partnership of the University of Michigan School of Education, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, and the Detroit Public Schools. Land crab diets vary slightly from species to species, but generally include nesting sea birds, invertebrates and plants. C. sapidus individuals exhibit sexual dimorphism. Eight short spines occur on each side between the large spine and the eyes. These crabs are omnivorous, since they eat a wide variety of invertebrates, as well as any dead or decaying organic matter (plant or animal). Blue crab [English] Common blue crab [English] A distinctive, large, sharp spine projects from each side. Species Callinectes sapidus blue crab Classification Classification. Their usual habitat is muddy shores, bays, and estuaries. Callinectes sapidus. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/animal/blue-crab. The blue crab which is one of the most wanted types of crabs, lives in estuaries and salt lagoons along the coast that goes from Nova Scotia, to the Gulf of Mexico. Classification Classification. Ray Bauer Research: Marine Biology and Shrimps Research projects by Bauer and students on caridean and penaeid shrimps and other decapod crustaceans, emphasizing mating systems, breeding, hermaphroditism, coloration, grooming, fouling, seagrass fauna, publications. At spawning time the female’s abdomen swells with eggs. Species Callinectes sapidus blue crab. In addition, recent reports have shown that blue crabs are projected to be detrimentally impacted by climate change in a way that can also wreak havoc on sensitive ecosystems that the blue crab calls home. Other important species include flower crabs (Portunus pelagicus), snow crabs (Chionoecetes), blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), edible or brown crabs (Cancer pagurus), Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister), and mud crabs (Scylla serrata), each of which provides more than 20,000 tonnes annually. Paralithodes platypus Conservation status Least Concern Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Family: Lithodidae Genus: Paralithodes Species: P. platypus Binomial name Paralithodes platypus Paralithodes platypus, the blue king crab, is a species of North Pacific king crab which lives near St. … The blue king crab or Paralithodes platypus in scientific terms, is the largest king crab species and one of the biggest crustaceans in the world.. Characteristics of the Blue King Crab. Summary Summary. They are striking to spot with their often bright-blue claws and olive-colored carapace (shell). Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Objective . Still we know that if you were to go out and catch a blue crab today it would be the same species as it was 400 million years ago! Basic Classification and Identification of Blue Crabs . There hundreds of different crabs on this planet so for the sake of simplicity, I am going with 2 kinds. The bay, which was called by journalist and critic H.L. ADW Pocket Guides on the iOS App Store! This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL-0628151.Copyright © 2002-2020, The Regents of the University of Michigan. Their usual habitat is muddy shores, bays, and estuaries. BioKIDS home  |  Questions?  |  Animal Diversity Web  |  Cybertracker Tools. Larvae hatch two weeks after fertilization and pass through a number of zoeal, or early larval, stages before metamorphosing into conventional crablike forms. Like all crabs, sea crabs belong to the order of decapods, which mean they have five pairs of legs inserted into their abdomens.The first pair of legs evolved over time, becoming a pair of claws or pincers that these crustaceans use to capture, cut and manipulate their food and even to defend themselves, and to court their partners. 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