Morphology data of Callinectes sapidus
Identification keys
Main Ref. Tavares, M., 2003
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis Carapace more than twice as broad as long; 9 blunt to acuminate teeth (outer orbital tooth and strong lateral spine included) on arched anterolateral margin; front (excluding inner orbital angles) bearing 2 obtuse to acuminate, broadly triangular teeth with often sinuous inner margins longer than outer margins. Much of convex dorsal surface smooth, but scattered and transverse lines of fine granules; sculpture of regions near center varying from low and smooth to rather sharply raised relief with crowded granules; pincers strong, dissimilar, and ridged longitudinally; fifth legs flattened in form of paddles. Males with T-shaped abdomen level of thoracic sternite 4; slender first pleopods with membranous tip reaching beyond suture between thoracic sternites 4 and 5; sinuously curved overlapping proximally and armed distally with a row of large and small retrogressive spinules. Color: greyish, bluish, or brownish green. Males with propodi of chelae blue on inner and white on outer surfaces, fingers blue on inner and white on outer surfaces and tipped with red. Mature females with orange fingers on chelae tipped with purple. Underparts off-white with tints of yellow and pink. Color variations is associated with sexual dimorphism and molt cycle.
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Callinectes sapidus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
spines     
soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
spines     
soft-rays   
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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