The Blue Crab By Emory Meyer

Emory Meyer

English / Science

November 19, 2015

The Blue Crab

Callinectes sapidus

Callinectes sapidus more commonly known as the Blue crab are found in brackish coastal lagoons and estuaries along the coast from Nova Scotia though the Gulf of Mexico.  Their carapace (shell) varies in color from bluish to olive greenish. They have bright blue claws and females have red tips. They have three pairs of walking legs and paddle shaped swimming legs. An interesting fact about this organism is that males are called “Jimmys” and females are called “Sooks”. Their prey includes: clams, mussels, fish, and smaller crabs. Their predators include: large fish, some sea birds, and sea turtles. They are heterotrophic, meaning they get energy from other organisms by eating autotrophs or other heterotrophs, they have bilateral symmetry, and they are ectothermic, meaning they are cold-blooded. Three interesting adaptations include: all three structural: they have large, strong claws to grab prey and hold it, they have a hard carapace (shell) to protect them from predators, and they have paddle like legs that help it swim.

Domian: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca

Order: Decapoda

Family: Portunidae

Genus: Callinectes

Species: sapidus

Work Cited:

"Callinectes sapidus"
http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/callin_sapidu.htm
19 Nov. 2015.