What is the larvae of a blue crab?

Currents transport blue crab larvae, called zoea, to the ocean, where they molt several times as they grow. Eventually, zoea return to the Bay and other estuaries. During their last larval molt, zoea metamorphose into a post-larval form called the megalops.

Is crab a ZOEA?

Classification: Zoea larvae are members of the crab group, a crustacean under the arthropods.

Where do crab larvae live?

Life Stage 1: Zoea (Larvae) Adult blue crabs live in estuaries, areas such as Pamlico Sound where salt water and freshwater mix. After mating, a female carries a brood of 800,000-8,000,000 eggs under her apron on the underside of her body (see Fig 1.)

How often does a blue crab molt?

Small crabs will shed four or five times a month, while older crabs may take thirty to fifty days to grow large enough before needing to shed again.

What is the largest blue crab ever caught?

However, they are usually harvested before they reach that size. While a blue crab usually weighs about ⅓ pound, the edible portion is much lower. The largest blue crab caught in the Chesapeake Bay weighed 1.1 pounds and was 10.72 inches (tip to tip across the carapace).

What time of year do blue crabs have eggs?

Spawning occurs over a period of one to two weeks, from May to September, with a minor peak in June and major peaks in July and August. Individual females may spawn more than once, depending on the amount of sperm transferred during mating.

What do crab zoea eat?

She probably feeds on microscopic algae and other small larvae (plural form of larva). After the last zoeal stage, the crab enters a megalops stage, which lasts 6-20 days.

How do you tell the difference between male and female crabs?

Specify gender: Crab gender is easy to distinguish: male crabs (or “jimmies”) have a narrow, T-shaped “apron” on the back of their shell, while female crabs (“sooks”) have a wide apron. In addition, live females have red-tipped claws, while male claws are blue.

How long do crab larvae last?

about 12-18 months
The juvenile stage lasts about 12-18 months, Epifanio said. Crabs thrive in a marshy environment with oxygenated water and plenty of seagrass for shelter, Jesien said.

Is there a blue crab season?

The peak season for Maryland Blue Crabs is from April to the end of November. The biggest, heaviest crabs are typically harvested during the fall months (September to mid-November).

How do you know when a blue crab is molting?

When molting, the shell cracks along the back between the carapace and the abdomen. The crab or buster slowly backs out in a soft shell condition. Times vary, but a 4- to 5-inch crab takes up to 2 or 3 hours to molt. Over the next 9 to 12 hours, the shell has a leathery feel and is called a Paper Shell.

What is the larval stage of a blue crab?

The Zoea larval stage of a blue crab. The megalopa looks a bit like a crossover between a crab and a lobster. In this phase, the crab is still too small and too weak to swim. Carried by the currents and the tidal flow from the ocean, the megalopa drifts back into the Bay. The megalopa is a voracious eater and feeds mainly on the other zooplankton.

What kind of life does a blue crab have?

The blue crab starts her life as a larva, an early-life stage that looks completely different than her adult form. She will spend 31-49 days going through seven larval stages called zoea. In each stage she is similar in appearance, but is slightly larger than in the last stage.

How long does it take for blue crab eggs to hatch?

The eggs hatch into a microscopic first larval stage called zoea, which are swept out to the Atlantic Ocean by the bay’s currents. It takes about 31-49 days for the zoea to transform into megalops, the next larval stage.

When does a blue crab become a megalops?

After the last zoeal stage, the crab enters a megalops stage, which lasts 6-20 days. This is the first step toward obtaining the typical crab form-the body becomes wider with legs protruding from the sides, but with the abdomen still stretched out behind.