The blue crab’s Latin name, Callinectes sapidus, means “beautiful savory swimmer”. The blue crab is one of the largest crustaceans. It has five pairs of legs. The first pair are claws modified for eating and defense and the last pair are modified for use as swimming paddles.
Blue crabs overwinter in high salinity waters near the mouths of major freshwater inputs and bays. As water temperature warms and salinity increases, crabs move upstream into freshwater to mate. After mating occurs, female crabs return to higher salinity waters to release their eggs. The Hudson River has a robust blue crab population
