It has a slightly stiff shell, but is still considered a soft-shell. Paper shell A recently shed crab, approximately 9 to 12 hours after molting. Although many find its flavor distinct and delicious, it is recommended that you do not eat this since many chemical contaminants concentrate in the organ. Contrary to popular belief, the "mustard" is not fat, rather it's the crab's hepatopancreas, the organ responsible for filtering impurities from the crab's blood. Mustard Yellow substance found inside a cooked crab. During this terminal molt, mating takes place. Unlike male crabs that continue to molt and grow throughout their entire lives, females stop growing when they reach sexual maturity, usually after about 20 molts. The shell grows in discrete stages through molting, while growth of internal tissue is more continuous. Instead, crabs have rigid exoskeletons (hard shells). Blue crabs are invertebrates, meaning they lack a spinal column.
Molt The process by which a blue crab grows larger by periodically shedding its smaller shell. Megalopa (megalopae, pl.) Final larval stage between the zoea and juvenile stage. Regionally, the apron is said to resemble the Washington Monument. Jimmy crab A male blue crab, distinguishable by its T-shaped apron. Hard crab Crab with a fully hardened shell, from about four days after molting. Remove and discard when cleaning crabs.ĭoubler Mating crabs the male carries the soft-shell female crab, which has just completed its terminal molt, beneath it. They are not poisonous but do have an unpleasant taste and texture. The term probably refers to the fact that the gray "shriveled" gills vaguely resemble the fingers of a dead person.
#BLUE CRAB ARCHIVES CRACKED#
Also a type of crab meat.īuckram crab A crab with a leathery, semi-hard shell, approximately 12 to 24 hours after molting the stage past the paper shell stage.īuster Crab in an advanced stage of molting, wherein the old exoskeleton (hard shell) has cracked under the lateral spines.Ĭarapace Top part of the shell of the crab.Ĭrustacea Class of invertebrates to which the Atlantic blue crab belongs the crab is a crustacean.ĭead man's fingers The gills, elongated, spongy-looking organs. The rear-most fin of the crab, which is a flat, oval-shaped swimming fin. Apron The crab abdomen, which is folded under the body.Ītlantic blue crab Known by its scientific name Callinectes sapidus in Greek " Callinectes" means "beautiful swimmer," and " sapidus" means tasty or savory.īackfin The swimming or paddle fin.
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