They are found from Canada to South America (Argentina).
They live in tidal pools and on the seabed.
They have a hard shell carapace that is blueish in color. They have 10 legs, 5 on each side. The first one is an enlarged claw.
During the winter, they bury themselves in the mud and grass beds. They wander the sea bottom searching for prey.
They will eat whatever they can find, including: fish, crabs, clams, snails, plants, and even dead fish.
Females lay eggs in a mass under their belly. They can lay up to 8 million eggs. Young egg sponges are orange and gradually turn to brown and then black as the sponge matures. These crabs are called "sponge crabs."
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Portunidae
Genus: Callinectes
Species: C. sapidus
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