Blue Crab Information Blue crab have long been a delicacy around
the world. Thanks to their scavanging ability and will to
survive, this crab has withstood the test of time, even though
it is avidly hunted world wide. The Blue Crab belongs to the
crustacean order of Decapoda, and consists of several species
which are prized as delicacies worldwide. This crab lives along
the eastern coasts of North and South America. It prefers waters
known as "brackish," a mixture of fresh and salt water, sea
grasses and weeds. Like most large crustaceans, the blue crab
has a hard shell. The shell ranges in color from olive, brown or
red to varying shades of blue. The shell of this crab is made of
chitin and hardened with calcium. The blue crab's pinchers or
"chelae" are large and very unequal in size. The crab has both
pinchers and legs and is one of the few crustaceans who are
capable of swimming. The eyes of the blue crab rest on short
stalks, and are like those of insects, allowing the crab to see
even the smallest moveme