The scientific name given to the blue crab was derived from Latin and Greek: Calli, beautiful; nectes, swimmer; and sapidus, savory. Thus, a literaltransition might be the beautiful savory swimmer.The blue crab is an important and interesting species. The blue crab isa species whose life history involves a complex cycle of planktonic, nektonic,and benthic stages which occur throughout the marine environment in avariety of habitats. The blue crab is one of the more abundant estuarineinvertebrates and supports important commercial and recreational fisheriesalong the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The blue crab plays an important role inthe marine food web, providing prey for many species and a predator on otherspecies. The blue crab is a highly prized commodity to consumers. Eight species of Callinectes have been documented in the Gulf ofMexico: C. bocourti, C. danae, C. ornatus, C. exasperatus, C. marginatus, C.similis and C. rathbunae, and Callinectes sapidus. The original range of the blue crab is from Nova Scotia and throughoutthe Gulf of Mexico to northern Argentina. The blue crab is rarely found northof Cape Cod, but has been recorded in Maine and Nova Scotia. The blue crabhas been introduced into Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia.Introductions into the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding waters haveproduced breeding populations whereas others were probably temporaryoccurrences. The blue crab also has been introduced into Japan.Blue crabs are one of the most common marine invertebrates and aregenerally abundant throughout the oceans. Peak abundance of adult crabsoccurs during the warmer months. During winter, crabs are found in areas oftidal exchange in the lower estuary. Juvenile blue crabs are most abundant inwaters of low to intermediate salinity during the winter months.Males become sexually mature at the 18 or 19th molt but may continueto grow and molt an additional 3-4 times thereafter. Female crabs wereinitially thought to...
