TRUE CRABS TECHNICAL TERMS and PRINCIPAL MEASUREMENTS USED PARTS of a TRUE CRAB (Callinectes Sp.)

Home , Calappa (crab)

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TRUE CRABS TECHNICAL TERMS AND PRINCIPAL MEASUREMENTS USED PARTS OF A TRUE CRAB (Callinectes sp.)

hand cheliped palm

dactyle inner orbital angle carpus

outer orbital tooth antennule eye (folded) antenne merus

anterolateral teeth frontal orbit margin anterolateral

margin

lateral spine walking legs 1 to 4 posterolateralmargin Carapace

abdomen coxa merus (folded under thorax) carpus ischium

propodus

Upper side dactyle

telson groove covered thoracic by abdomen sternites thoracic IV to VIII sternites first pair of pleopods

abdomen of female abdomen of male Thoracic sternum of male after removal of abdomen, showing first pair of pleopods (copulating organs)

ventral view

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TRUE CRABS

MOST COMMON EDIBLE FAMILIES AND SPECIES

In view of the large number of species used as human food, and of the fact that many edible species are not yet exploited, it is not possible at present to establish a complete list of species of interest to fisheries.

CALAPPIDAE depression behind orbits

Calappa gallus (Herbst, 1803) dorsal crest of left cheliped FAO names : En - Yellow box crab; Fr - Migraine jaune; Sp - Calapa amarilla. Size : 8 cm (width of carapace). Fishing gear : bottom trawls (bycatch), Habitat : coastal waters to 200 m depth; burrows in sand or muddy sand. Loc.name(s) :

colour orange to brownish orange with brownish red spots; underside yellow granulated ridges

high dorsal crest Calappa pelii Herklots, 1851

FAO names : En- Spiny box crab; Fr - Migraine épineuse; Sp - Calapa espinuda. Size : 6 cm (width of carapace). Fishing gear : bottom trawls (bycatch). Habitat : burrows in sand or sandy mud between surface finely 12 and 400 m depth, common between 50 and granulated 150 m depth. (without ridges) Loc.name(s) :

colour reddish or brownish

posterior teeth

surface granulated high dorsal crest without crests Calappa rubroguttata Herklots, 1851

FAO names : En - Spotted box crab; Fr - Migraine maculée; Sp - Calapa manchada. Size : 10.8 cm (width of carapace). Fishing gear : bottom trawls, beach seines, bottom set nets. Habitat : burrows in sand or gravel, from the coastline to 90 m depth. Loc.name(s) :

posterior teeth

colour yellowish, with red spots and longitudinal bands