Mud Crab (In the Mangroves of Mlalazi Estuary)

Mud Crab

Scylla serrata

Summary ⁷

Scylla serrata (often called mud crab or mangrove crab, although both terms are highly ambiguous, as well as black crab) is an economically important species of crab found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa, Australia and Asia. In their most common form, the shell colour varies from a deep, mottled green to very dark brown.

Description ⁸

The serrated swimming crab, Scylla serrata, is a non-native species in Floriad whose current status in the state is uncertain. It is a robust crab belonging to the family of swimming crabs (Portunidae) to which the familiar blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, also belongs.The carapace has four blunt frontal teeth and each anterolateral margin has nine similarly sized broad teeth. The chilipeds (claws) are robust with several well developed spines and the rear legs are flattened into swimming appendages as is typical of members of the portunid family. Individuals are grayish green to purple-brown and variable in color with small irregular white spots on the carapace and swimming legs (Motoh 1979, Perry 2007, GSMFC).

Fontes e Créditos

(c) NSW DPI, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/landlearnnsw/4544589571/
(c) Almandine, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scylla_serrata.jpg
(c) Loxley Fedec, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Loxley Fedec
(c) Susan Slater, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:200_-_puu_talay.jpg
(c) Fadi Yaghmour, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Fadi Yaghmour
(c) Wasini Tour Guide, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Wasini Tour Guide
(c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scylla_serrata
(c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11526755