Blue crab

General

Lobsters and crayfish

Lobsters live in saltwater whilst crayfish live in freshwater habitats. Lobsters and crayfish are most often caught using pots or traps. Most lobsters are equipped with ten legs and two scissors as front legs. With these scissors, they are able to grab, cut or crack their food. Did you know lobsters and crayfish, just lie snakes, change their skin because their shell does not grow with their bodies? After changing their shell the animal grows fast and increases in weight.

There are many different lobster species. Most common are the American lobster in the north-western Atlantic ocean, and the European lobster in the north-eastern Atlantic ocean. Lobsters have a relatively slow growth rate and reach sexual maturity at a late age. Another frequently consumed lobster is the Norway lobster. This species is way smaller than the American and European lobster. This species occurs in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Mediterranean sea.

Blue crab

The blue crab is also known as the Atlantic blue crab, or Chesapeake blue crab. There are two different species of the blue crab that have a very similar appearance. One occurs in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific whilst the other species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic blue crab is a relatively large crab with a carapace width of 23 centimetres. The Atlantic blue crab has blue coloured legs of which the last pair is flattened and function as paddles for swimming. Another characteristic feature of the Atlantic blue crab is its shiny blue colour and two pointy extensions on both sides of the carapace. Unlike the Japanese blue crab, the Atlantic blue crab does not have white spots.

The Atlantic blue crab is native on the east-coast of the American continent where the species is considered as a delicacy, especially when it is caught right after moulting when the carapace is still soft. The species is then sold as soft-shelled crab. Since 1930, the Atlantic blue crab can also be found in the Netherlands.