Blue Crab
| Name: | Blue Crab |
| Scientific Name: | Callinectes sapidus |
| Family: | Swimming Crabs |
| Taxonomic: | Portunidae |
| ID Group: | Crabs |
| Size: | up to 8 in. |
| Depth Range: | Shorelines, Tidal pools (0 – 2 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen sometimes |
The Blue Crab has a wide shell with long, pointed spines on each side and several smaller spines along the front edge. Its body color ranges from greenish-brown to olive, with light speckles. The legs and claw arms are partly blue, and females have orange-colored claws. The back edge of the shell is smooth, and there are four spines between the eyes.
This Crab lives in sandy or muddy areas and is mostly found along the shoreline and in the shallow waters of mangroves.