WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

Ornate Blue Crab

Callinectes ornatus

Also known as: Brachyura Crab, Ornate Blue Swimming Crab, Ornate Crab, Shelling Crab, Swimming Crab, True Crab, Western Atlantic Blue Crab, Western Atlantic Swimming Crab

Adult
@heraldothompson · Phil Foster Park, United States · September 20151 / 1
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Overview

Found both close to shore and in much deeper waters, over mud, sand, shell and sponge bottoms of coral reefs, also in harbours, where they can be found feeding on trash!
They feed on carrion, detritus, fish, invertebrates and molluscs.

Brachyura crabs are considered true crabs, they have a short abdomen, four walking legs and a pair of clawed arms at the front.
Many thousands of species live worldwide in sea water, fresh water and on land.

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How to identify

Body shape
striped legs

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found both close to shore and in much deeper waters, over mud, sand, shell and sponge bottoms of coral reefs, also in harbours, where they can be found feeding on trash!

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumArthropoda
    3. classMalacostraca
    4. orderDecapoda
    5. familyPortunidae
    6. genusCallinectes
    7. speciesCallinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Crabs (Portunidae)