Morphology data of Callinectes similis
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 teeth (outer orbital tooth and strong lateral spine included) on arched anterolateral margin; front bearing 4 teeth (excluding inner orbital angles), inner pair small but definitely formed. Much of convex dorsal surface lightly and uniformly granulate in addition to transverse lines of fine granulations; central trapezoidal (metagastric) area short and wide (anterior width about 2.75 times, posterior width about 1.7 times length). Pincers dissimilar, with very fine granules on longitudinal ridges; fifth legs flattened in form of paddles. Male with sixth (penultimate) segment of T-shaped abdomen broader than telson, flush with sternum in retracted position; first pleopods well separated and reaching anteriorly 2/3 length of thoracic sternite 7 or beyond, distal part slender, extending straight to tips curved slightly inward, armed with minute retrogressive spinules. Color: carapace green dorsally, irregular areas of iridescence at bases of and between anterolateral teeth, and on posterior and posterolateral border. Chelipeds and portions of legs similar in color more tannish green dorsally, with iridescent areas on outer surface, with fuchsia on tips of fingers and teeth of opposed edges. Lateral spines and some anterolateral teeth as well as spines on chelipeds white-tipped. Walking legs grading from fuchsia distally through violet blue to light blue mottled with white proximally, pubescence on legs beige. Swimming legs variably mottled with white; all legs with stellate fuchsia markings at articulations. Underparts white blue.
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Callinectes similis

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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