1. The Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Callinectes- beautiful swimmer Sapidus-savory

2. Member of the swimming crab family Aggressive, bottom-dwelling predator and “keystone” species Also make up the most productive commercial and recreational fisheries

3. Sexually dimorphic

4. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda (spiders, insects) Class: Crustacea (lobsters, shrimp) Order: Decapoda (ten-footed) Family: Portunidae (swimming crabs) Close relatives of the shrimp and lobster

6. Growth and development occurs when an animal molts (sheds its rigid exoskeleton) Before molting, a new shell is formed underneath the old exoskeleton, which then loosens and is cast off

15. Pre-copulation dance

19. Habitat Extends along the Atlantic Coast from Nova Scotia through South America Live in estuaries and need brackish (salt and freshwater mix) and high salinity waters for their complex life cycle Loves SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) to hide in and buries in the deep, muddy parts of the estuary in the winter

20. General Facts Diet: Omnivore, opportunistic (taking advantage of what is available), which also means they will eat each other if they have to Average lifespan in the wild: 1 to 3 years Size: 4 in (10.2 cm) long; 9 in (23 cm) wide Size relative to a tea cup

21. Threats Habitat loss Degraded water quality Overfishing

22. Economic Importance 1/3 of the nation’s catch of blue crabs come from the Chesapeake Blue crabs have the highest value of any Chesapeake commercial fishery In 2000, the harvest was valued at $55 million Also major recreational fishery

23. Cool Stuff! Crabs can release their claws (Autotomy) and regenerate new ones Males are called “jimmies”, females called “sooks” Can survive out of water for several days as long as its moist and not a stressful environment Use chemoreception to find food