Animal Species:Blue Swimmer Crab
The Blue Swimmer Crab is named for its distinctive colour.
Blue Swimmer Crab
Dr Isobel Bennett
© Australian Museum
Identification
The Blue Swimmer Crab is easily recognised by its distinctive shape and colour, and its large front pincers.
Female Blue Swimmer Crabs are known as 'jennies' and are less colourful than the males.
Size range
19 cm
Distribution
The Blue Swimmer Crab is found from Northern Queensland to Eden in New South Wales; Western Australia and the South Australian gulfs. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Habitat
Generally, the Blue Swimmer Crab occurs in the deeper waters of intertidal estuaries but occasionally it enters shallower waters.
Seasonality
The Blue Swimmer Crab is a popular food in Australia and is targeted and caught in large numbers by professional and recreational fishers. These crabs enter estuaries as juveniles and grow quite quickly, maturing after one year.
Classification
- Species:
- pelagicus
- Genus:
- Portunus
- Family:
- Portunidae
- Infraorder:
- Brachyura
- Order:
- Decapoda
- Class:
- Malacostraca
- Subphylum:
- Crustacea
- Phylum:
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
Last Updated:
Tags crustaceans, crabs, edible, seafood, invertebrates, arthropods, wildlife of sydney, identification,
