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Unidentified Animal 8
Based on the videos below see if you can identify the specimen that was retrieved in the otter trawl.
For each question there will be 1 - 3 choices for you to decide between. To move to the next option, click "Choice A", "Choice B", or "Choice C". If you answer a question incorrectly, you will be directed to a drawing of an organism. Click the blue button below the drawing to return to the question to try again.
Question 1
Choice A: Carapace ("shell") is only slightly wider than long; with 3 - 5 teeth on edge of shell to either side of eyes; with small rounded spots of reddish purple.
Choice B: Carapace ("shell") is more than twice as wide as long; with 9 teeth on edge of shell to either side of eyes; the ninth (outermost) tooth is longer than the others and forms a strong, sharp spine; not speckled with red spots.
Question 1
Question 2
Choice A: With 4 teeth on edge of shell between eyes (including the teeth at the inner corner of each eye socket); with 3 spines on front edge of claw "arms" (merus); often very common.
Choice B: With more than 4 teeth on edge of shell between eyes; may or may not have more than 3 spines on front edge of claw "arms" (merus); rare
Question 2
Ovalipes ocellatus, lady crab
Small rounded spots of reddish purple on gray or beige background; up to 8 cm (3 1/4") carapace width; common on sandy bottoms in shallow water.
3 - 5 teeth to either side of eyes
carapace not much wider than long
lady crab
CORRECT
You have successfully identified the Lady Crab
blue crab
Callinectes sapidus, blue crab
Grayish or bluish green carapace; fingers of claws are bright blue in males, red in females; may grow up to 23 cm (9") carapace width (from spine tip to spine tip); they mate in upper estuarine areas; females migrate to deeper water to spawn; some years they are very common.
4 teeth between eyes
3 spines on arm
outermost spine is long
carapace twice as wide as long
9 teeth to either side of eyes
female (underside)
male (underside)
narrow abdomen
Other swimming crabs
Occasionally other swimming crabs such as Portunus gibbesii or Callinectes similis are found in southern New England.
swimming crabs
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