Scylla serrata (often called mud crab or mangrove crab, although both terms are highly ambiguous and black crab) is an ecologically important species of crab found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa, Australia and Asia.
In their most common forms, their shell colours vary from a deep, mottled green to very dark brown.
Scylla serrata is a swimming crab with an oval carapace. The carapace bears four triangular frontal teeth between the eyes and nine anterolateral teeth on each side. The chelipeds (claw-legs) are massive and smooth, and longer than the other legs.
Mud crabs are prized by recreational fishers for their impressive size and delicious taste.
Green Crab (Portunus Sanguinolentus)
A common littoral crab this one is known by multiple names across the world. In the British Isles, this species goes by the name shore crab or green shore crab. This variety is invasive in nature and has been listed in the top 100 â??world's worst alien invasive species." Though it is a native to the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea it can also be found inhabiting Australia, South America and South Africa.
At maturity, the carapace is of a 90 mm width and its food is usually a variety of small crustaceans, molluscs and worms. The colour of this species can vary from green, brown, grey and red. It is believed that those who delay their moulting turn into a red colour. These red ones are considered to be much more aggressive as compared to others.
The presence of green crab can be harmful to the ecosystems and hence its growth is restricted externally. Native blue crab of America contributes largely to the restriction in population. It is therefore fished on a very small scale in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and 1200 tonnes are caught annually. In the native range, the green crab can be used as an important part of soups and sauce.
PACKING
1 X 10 KG IF
SIZES
U/5, 4/6, 6/8, 8/12, 12/15, 15/18
Mud Crab (Scylla Serrata)
The mud or mangrove crab is found in mangroves and estuaries of Australia, Asia and Africa. Their shell is of green or brown colour and hence the name is given. Its natural region is around the Indo Pacific area. Thus you can find it from South Africa, the Indian Ocean to the Malay Archipelago, and from southern Japan to south-eastern Australia, and as far east as Fiji and Samoa.
Nowadays this species has been introduced in Hawaii and Florida. Since they were imported from American Samoa they are given the name Samoan crab in Hawaii. Their big size and delicious meat makes their demand high and led to over crabbing, To stop the same the government has had to put a ban on the crabbing of species less than 6 inches of size.
The juveniles are residents of Mangroves while sub adults can be found in the high tide region. On the other hand, the adults are seen in the low tide zone. The mud crabs are cannibalistic in nature. When they are moulting they have a tendency to devour other crabs around them. Females of this species give birth to a million offspring and thus their population never goes down.
PACKING : 1 X 10 KG IF
SIZES : U/5, 4/6, 6/8, 8/12, 12/15, 15/18
Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus Pelagicus)
The blue swimming crab is a huge crab which can be found in estuaries around Australia and New Caledonia. All over the world, it has been given multiple names like flower crab, blue crab, blue swimmer crab, blue manna crab or sand crab. Males of this species are blue in colour and have white spots on its body. The females, on the other hand, have a dull brown or green colour and are identified due to their round carapace.
During the winter and in day time you would find the blue crab buried under the sand. When its high tides they may come out to feed upon bivalves, fish and macroalgae. They are considered to be excellent swimmers and their flattened legs look like paddles. But they are unable to survive out of the water for very long periods of time.
Found largely in the Indopacific region it is eaten widely in the region. It is one of the high prized species and its meat has a sweet taste to it. In the Persian Gulf, the species is cultivated for meat consumption and the females are considered a better option. The blue crab is also fished in Australia and available to the regular fishers. During the rainy season, the Juveniles migrate from estuaries to the seawater.
PACKING
1 X 10 KG IF
SIZES
U/5, 4/6, 6/8, 8/12, 12/15, 15/18
4802 Fresh Crabs Suppliers
Short on time? Let Fresh Crabs sellers contact you.
