Category: Crabs and Shrimp view all from this category

Description 9 1/4". (23 cm) wide, 4" (102 mm) long. Spindle-shaped. Grayish or bluish-green, spines red; male with blue fingers on hand, female with red; underside white, with yellow and pink tints. Carapace 2 1/2 times as wide as long, moderately convex, smooth; 4 triangular teeth between eye sockets, 8 sharp, strong teeth between eye socket and large spine at side. Pincers powerful; hand ribbed, with spine at base; fingers nearly straight, toothed; long joints between wrist and body with 3 large teeth on front margin; 5th pair of walking legs broad, paddle-shaped.

Habitat In shallows and brackish estuaries; from low-tide line to water 120' (37 m) deep.

Range Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas; Bermuda; West Indies to Uruguay.

Discussion Because of its commercial importance, this species has been studied more extensively than any other crab. It supports a large seafood industry in Chesapeake Bay and along the entire southeastern and Gulf coasts.