Are sand crabs edible? | Reference.com Are sand crabs edible? A: Quick Answer Sand crabs, like all species of crabs, can be eaten. Sand crabs are also called mole crabs, and while they are often considered ugly in appearance, they are crunchy and flavorful. Full Answer Sand crabs are often used by fisherman as bait to help catch pompano, red drum and even kingfish. Special rakes can be purchased to help dig these little crabs out of the sand, where they tend to hide while waiting for bits of food to float by. These crabs are the smallest in size of all crabs and they can sometimes be found in large numbers around stinging jellyfish. These tiny crabs eat bits of tentacle by wrapping the tentacle around one leg and begin nibbling, so it is not recommended to eat sand crab in an area where there are lots of jellyfish. What do freshwater crabs eat? | Reference.com What do freshwater crabs eat? A: Quick Answer There are more than 1,300 species of freshwater crabs and, as such, there is no one diet consistent to all of them. However, most are omnivores and scavengers.

Full Answer Some freshwater crab species eat dead leaves and algae, while a small number of species are carnivorous. Platythelphusa armata, for example, lives almost exclusively on snails found in Lake Tanganyika. However, most freshwater crabs are not particular about what they eat, and many subsist on the detritus that accumulates at the bottom of rivers, lakes or aquariums. Freshwater crabs generally live in tropical and subtropical climates, and while many live around bodies of water, some live in caves or even the boles of trees. They usually play integral roles in their ecosystems, with many species serving as a source of food for other animals and as a way of determining water quality for scientists due to their dependency on clean water. Because many species have such specialized habitats, freshwater crabs are also largely endangered; for instance, 40 of the 50 species native to Sri Lanka are threatened. Semi-terrestrial species that require both land and water to live on are most commonly in danger. Few freshwater crabs are available as pets.

Even the mini crab, a kind of fiddler crab commonly sold in pet stores, requires brackish water, meaning it needs at least some salt in its environment. Many species sold in pet stores also require some amount of land in their aquarium. In terms of diet, mini crabs eat bloodworms and brine shrimp, although they will also consume any uneaten fish food that gathers at the bottom. Ladywildlife's Fiddler Crab Page Fiddler Crab To see pictures of animals click the blue dot.. The male fiddler crab has one claw which is much larger than the other. It makes him look as though he is carrying a fiddle and a bow and gives him his name. There are several different species of fiddler crab found throughout the warmer parts of the world. They are generally quite small, about the size of a walnut, and can be very brightly colored ï¿½ especially the male of the species. Habits: Fiddler crabs spend most of their time out of the water, feeding on the shore when the tide is out. Staying close to the long burrows they excavate in the sand, the crabs retreat into the holes at the sign of any danger.

When the tide is in, the crabs bury deep into their individual burrows, safe inside a pocket of air. Although fiddler crabs spend all their time on land, they breathe through fish like gills that need to be kept moist. Predators: At its larval stage, the fiddler crab is eaten by a wide variety of predators, such as the flamingo, which scoops up the larvae by the thousands. Adult crabs also have many predators. Birds like the frigate and tern swoop down and snap them up. The whimbrel chases them across the beach, breaking off their legs before eating them. Foraging mammals dig them out of their burrows. Food and Feeding: Fiddler crabs use their front claws to feed by scooping up sand and mud which they pass to their mouthparts. They eat the algae that they separate from the grains of sand and mud. The non edible particles are ejected on the seashore in the form of tiny, pea size pellets. Because sand and mud contain little organic material, the crab must feed continually to survive. Male fiddler crabs spend twice as long feeding as the females.

Breeding: The male fiddler crab uses his large, brightly colored claw to protect his territory from rival males and to attract females. He will display his claw to a female and then retreat into his burrow, where the female follows him to mate. After mating, the female deposits several hundred fertilized eggs into the sea. The crab larvae soon hatch and spend the first part of their lives as part of the plankton (microscopic plants and animals) that floats in the ocean. As the larvae grow and molt, they begin to resemble tiny crabs and are eventually washed up on the beach. Young fiddler crabs are miniature versions of the adults. They excavate their own burrows, but will not mate until they have reached their full size and become sexually mature at 1-2 years. Key Facts: Habit: Solitary, shore living Diet: Organic particles scraped from grains of sand or mud Related species: There are many different types of fiddler crab, belonging to the genus Uca. Some species can be identified by the particular form of their mating display. Distribution: Found throughout the warmer areas of the world, including the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the South Atlantic, and the Mediterranean.

Conservation: Fiddler crabs are found in larger numbers throughout their range. The main danger to their survival is the increasing level of marine pollution worldwide. The Fiddler Crabï¿½s Claws: The male fiddler crabï¿½s claw is greatly enlarged and brightly colored. By displaying his claw to a female, the male hopes to lure her into his burrow to mate. By waving his claw at other males, he warns them to stay away from his territory. He also uses it when fighting with rival males. The femaleï¿½s claws are of regular size, enabling her to gather food more easily than the male. Did You Know: In certain species of fiddler crab, the males have an enlarged right claw, while in others they have an enlarged left claw. As the fiddler crab grows, it must shed its outer shell, or molt. Because the crabï¿½s new shell is still soft while molting, it seeks the shelter of its burrow, where it is safe from most predators. The largest crab in the world is the giant spider crab, which lives at great depths off the coast of Japan.

Its shell is only 12 inches across, but its legs can stretch as far as 6 feet. To return to animal menu click here IF YOU FIND ANYTHING NOT WORKING PLEASE EMAIL ME! I do try to keep this site working at all times but sometimes I don't catch everything What page (URL) and what animal RI Salt Marshes Coggeshall Marsh, Prudence Island Courtesy: NOAA Rhode Island salt marshes are found along the shores of salt ponds, the Narragansett Bay estuary, small embayments (such as Allin's Cove in Barrington), and estuarine rivers (such as the Narrow River estuary). Our salt marshes provide nursery grounds and foraging habitat for hundreds of species of fish, shellfish, birds, and mammals. Fish of all sizes, from mummichogs to striped bass , hunt in creeks and ponds. Quahogs and oysters live beneath the surface, while mussels , fiddler crabs , and snails occupy intertidal areas. Many kinds of birds visit the marsh to feed on the fish and invertebrates: osprey and herons, ducks of all sorts, and mosquito-eating sparrows that nest in the marsh.

In addition to their habitat value, salt marshes serve as natural pollution treatment systems by filtering out pollutants before they reach our coastal waters. The location of salt marshes between our developed coastal communities and the waters of the state also provides a buffer during storms and flooding. Seventy-five percent of commercial fish species depend on estuaries for their primary habitat, spawning grounds, and nursery areas. In Rhode Island, the role that salt marshes play in our economy is evidenced by our 75 million dollar commercial fishery and a recreational fishery valued at 150 million dollars. The sweeping vistas afforded by the low lying salt marsh landscape contribute immeasurably to the beauty and serenity of Rhode Island's coastline, as well as our tourism and outdoor recreation industry, which is valued at 2 billion dollars on Narragansett Bay alone. History and Impacts It is estimated that 60% of Rhode Island's salt marshes have been filled with mud and sand dredged during navigation projects or waste material derived from upland sources (Save The Bay 2002). Downtown Providence was once known as the Great Salt Cove, prior to filling and conversion to uplands.

Marshes can be completely filled or they can be partially filled, altering the tidal exchange of water, and impacting vegetation communities that rely on twice-daily flooding. Often the result of such changes in elevation and flooding is the invasion by undesirable species such as Phragmites australis ( common reed ). Phragmites is very tolerant of disturbed sites, and can rapidly overtake such areas. Phragmites rapidly invades salt marshes that have been disturbed or filled. Courtesy: D. Yozzo, Barry Vittor & Associates Construction of dikes, roads and rail crossings has resulted in the degradation of many marshes in Rhode Island. Restriction of tidal flow by installation of small culverts or drainage pipes under roads and rail beds leads to changes in salinity and alteration of the natural vegetation community due to a reduction in duration and frequency of tidal flooding. Phragmites, which is tolerant of these altered conditions, especially reduced salinity, often invades rapidly in areas that have been culverted or diked. Phragmites out-competes native salt marsh vegetation, and reduces local biodiversity.

Some 1200 of the existing 3700 acres of salt marsh in Narragansett Bay are impacted by Phragmites and other invasive plant species (Save The Bay 2002) Fish communities of salt marshes also suffer from road/rail infrastructure, as they rely on the natural tidal cycle to maintain populations in salt marshes. Marsh resident fish species, such as killifish (Fundulus spp.) spawn in concert with the tidal cycle, timing their spawning activity to coincide with the highest Spring tides, due ensure deposition of eggs in the highest portion of the marsh (Taylor et. al. 1979). When natural tidal cycles are interrupted, or reduced, killifish spawning success is impaired. Tidal restrictions can reduce the amount of habitat available for estuarine-dependent fish that travel up into tidal creeks in search of food. Mosquito ditching has impacted many marshes in Rhode Island. Mosquito ditches are very straight, narrow channels that were dug to drain the upper reaches of salt marshes. Historically, it was believed that ditching marshes would control populations of mosquitoes that breed there.

It is now known that ditching, in fact, drains standing water which support populations of mosquito-eating fish (e.g., killifish), leading to increases in mosquitoes. These fish are an important prey item for wading birds (herons and egrets), as well as larger, predatory fish species. Mosquito ditching alters natural patterns of groundwater drainage, which alters plant community composition, and nutrient cycling. Polluted runoff from adjacent uplands can degrade salt marshes. Runoff from roads and other paved surfaces, and nutrient-rich runoff from fertilized lawns, agricultural areas, and septic systems can degrade marshes by encouraging growth of Phragmites and other invasive species. Forested buffer zones between populated areas and salt marshes have diminished as population growth in coastal areas increases. Approximately 58% of Narragansett Bay's marshes are impacted by polluted runoff. Some 30% of the Bay's marshes have inadequate or non-existent buffer zones (Save The Bay, 2002). Healthy vs.

Degraded Salt Marshes An example healthy marsh with a vast meadow of Spartina, upland buffer, and no road crossings Courtesy: Coastal Resources Mangement Council Healthy Salt Marsh The typical vegetation of a salt marsh ( smooth cordgrass and salt hay grasses ) are a beautiful green in the summer and interspersed with purple sea lavender . Fiddler crabs can be seen scurrying along the intertidal mudflats at lower tides and fish dart through the tide pools and ditches. Sharp tailed sparrows and red winged blackbirds nest in tidal marshes. A great egret or a glossy ibis can be seen circling the marsh, while black ducks slowly wade through the marsh. The healthy salt marsh offers more than just a picture of beauty and wildlife; it is actively enhancing water quality by filtering sediments, nutrients, heavy metals, and other toxins from upland runoff. This benefit helps keep our state's waters clean and available for swimming and other recreational activities. In addition to the filtering processes, salt marshes are also intercepting waters during storms that could cause expensive, damaging flooding of residential and commercial properties.

An example degraded marsh that has a large stand of Phragmites and hydrologic restriction Courtesy: Save The Bay Degraded Salt Marsh Today many of us would be surprised to learn how extensively salt marshes and other wetland types used to occur in Rhode Island. For instance, Providence was one area where salt marshes were prevalent and have since been filled in to make way for population centers. Obviously, areas such as these cannot be reclaimed as salt marsh habitats. But there are other sites in our watersheds where tidal flows have been restricted, invasive plants are taking over, and sedimentation is changing the hydrology of the marsh. These types of impacts to a salt marsh result in lower biodiversity, a decrease in flood abatement and erosion benefits, and provide potential mosquito breeding habitats. Salt Marsh Restoration As early as the 1950s, studies had shown that changes to the tidal flushing, or hydrology, of a salt marsh would degrade its quality as habitat, and that the restoration of historic hydrology could restore the habitat value of the marsh.

In New England, where many salt marshes have been hydrologically altered by road and dike construction, dredged material disposal, and ditching, salt marshes have been a major focus of coastal habitat restoration efforts. Looking back on these projects after a decade or more, many of them have been very successful. The science and technology of salt marsh restoration are becoming fairly well established. Salt marshes are complexes of specialized plants and animals living in a low-energy, intertidal environment. Hydrology, the precise way in which the marsh is flooded by the tide, dictates which species can survive in any particular part of the marsh, and therefore defines the entire marsh ecosystem. Low marsh is flooded by nearly every tide. The dominant vegetation in a New England low marsh is usually smooth cordgrass . Ribbed mussels and fiddler crabs are some of the more common animals. High marsh is flooded only by the highest high tides. In New England, the dominant high marsh vegetation is generally salt hay grass , black grass, or spike grass . Common animals include deer and a wide variety of birds, including great blue herons .

The simplest form of salt marsh restoration involves re-establishing historic hydrology where it has been lost (see Restoration Methods for more details). In New England, roads and railways have often been built through marshes. Many times, culverts were placed in the tide creeks at the road crossings. The culverts may have been too small to begin with, or may have collapsed over time. The resulting tidal restrictions prevent most tides from reaching the marsh inland of the road. The marsh becomes a brackish, rather than tidal system; Phragmites, replaces the salt marsh vegetation; and the marsh habitat becomes severely degraded. In these instances, the installation of a culvert or culverts large enough to allow the full tidal range to return may be all that is needed to restore the marsh. The salinity of the tides will kill the Phragmites, and salt marsh vegetation and fauna will return over a number of years. Two completed projects in Rhode Island that primarily involved hydrologic restoration are highlighted on this Web site: the Little Mussachuck Creek Restoration and the Sachuest Salt Marsh Restoration . In other cases, the marsh itself may have been filled, often as a disposal site for marine sediments dredged from navigational channels.

In these instances, it is not enough merely to restore hydrology because the surface of the marsh is too high to allow the tide to flood it. In these instances, marsh elevations must be re-established in order to restore a salt marsh ecosystem. These types of restoration projects tend to be more difficult and expensive as more construction is required, and the logistics of earth-moving in a marsh can be challenging. Nevertheless, some very successful projects of this type have been accomplished, such as the Galilee Salt Marsh Restoration in Narragansett, and the Allen Harbor Restoration in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Salt Marsh Restoration Case Study: Galilee Bird Sanctuary Galilee Bird Sanctuary Courtesy: NOAA The Galilee Bird Sanctuary is a 130-acre salt marsh owned by the state of Rhode Island. The sanctuary is located east of the port of Galilee and is bounded by the Galilee Escape Road to the north and Sand Hill Cove Road to the south. During the l950s, dredged material from the Port of Galilee was deposited in parts of the marsh, filling in a tidal channel and significantly altering the natural tidal action.

During Hurricane Carol in 1954, coastal flooding in the area was so severe that local residents were trapped, unable to evacuate their homes. As a result, in 1956 the state built the Galilee Escape Road, which greatly improved public safety in Galilee but caused additional harm to the salt marsh by further restricting tidal flushing. These changes transformed the marsh into a dense thicket of Phragmites with very little habitat value for birds, fish, or shellfish. In 1991, the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM), which manages the marsh as a wildlife refuge, began a project to restore the ecological productivity of the marsh by reestablishing tidal flushing. DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife organized a partnership of federal, state, and non-governmental agencies; developed a restoration plan; oversaw construction; and monitored the recovery of the salt marsh. The team regraded the marsh, cut new tidal channels, and installed large culverts under the Galilee Escape Road to allow the tide to return to the marsh. The culverts are outfitted with self-regulating tide gates that allow normal tides in and out of the marsh, but prevent extreme tides from flooding coastal homes.

Tide gates at Galilee Courtesy: NOAA Since the completion of construction in 1997, the ecology of the marsh has begun to return. Fish and wildlife have responded to the restoration in dramatic fashion, as finfish recolonized the tidal creeks within days following opening of the tide gates. Waterfowl, including the American black duck , use the restored marsh extensively for nesting, feeding, and resting during migration. In total, approximately 84 acres of salt marsh habitats and 14 acres of tidal creeks and ponds were restored. Project partners included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DEM Mosquito Abatement, the University of Rhode Island, R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council, R.I. Department of Transportation, Ducks Unlimited, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Related Links ABCs of Animal World: 10 Commercially Significant and Popular Edible Species of Crabs Sunday, December 4, 2011 10 Commercially Significant and Popular Edible Species of Crabs Here’s a list of commonly known commercial species of crabs. These crabs are edible and commercially fish. These crabs are expensive seafoods.

1.) Red Frog Crab Image Source The Red Frog Crab is a unique-looking crab species. Its scientific name is Ranina ranina. The specimen on the above-photo was caught in Sasebo Seikai Pearl Sea Resort, Nagasaki, Japan. It is also commonly known as Spanner Crab. It can grow up to 15 cm in length and weigh as much as 900 grams. It is sold at a price of 400-500 pesos per kilogram in the Philippines. 2.) Bairdi Crab Image Source Bairdi Crab or Chionoecetes bairdi is a crab species that can be found in the Bering Sea. It is also commonly known as Tanner Crab. Commercially, it is called Snow Crab. It can live over a decade and can weigh as much as 1.8 kg. 3.) European Spider Crab Image Source The European Spider Crab or Maja squinado is a weird-looking migratory crab species found in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. They migrate during autumn with some crabs covering more than 160 km in eight months. This crab is the subject of commercial fishery, with over 5,000 tonnes caught annually.

This edible crab is also known commonly as Spiny Spider Crab or Spinous Spider Crab. 4.) Japanese Spider Crab The Japanese Spider Crab is the world’s largest leg span of any arthropod reaching up to 3.8 meters and weighing up to19 kg. It can live up to 100 years and it feeds on shellfish and carcasses. 5.) Atlantic Rock Crab Atlantic Rock Crab or Cancer irroratus is a colorful crab species that can be found in the eastern coast of North America. This edible crab is fish commercially. 6.) Dungeness Crab Image Source The Dungeness Crab or Metacarcinus magister is a colorful species of crab that inhabits eelgrass beds and water bottoms on the west coast of North America. It can grow to 20 cm across the carapace. This popular sea food common name comes from the port of Dungeness, Washington in the US. 7.) Jonah Crab The Jonah Crab or Cancer borealis is a commercially significant crab species that can be found on the Atlantic coast of North America. This crab with strong claws but not very aggressive has been fished on a small scale since the 1970s.

Around 1,500 tonnes of Jonah Crabs are being caught annually. 8.) Red King Crab Image Source The Red King Crab or Paralithodes camtschaticus is probably the most popular and one of the largest commercially important crab species in the world. This crab, which is endemic to the Bering Sea, can attain a leg span of up to 1.8 meters. Red King Crab is heavily targeted by fisheries. 9.) Blue King Crab Image Source The Blue King Crab or Paralithodes platypus is another large crab species. It can be found near St. Matthew Island, the Diomede Islands and the Pribilof Islands in Alaska and along the coast of Russia and Japan. Blue King Crabs from the Pribilof Islands are the largest of all the king crabs. They can attain weight of up to 8.2 kg and are commercially harvested. 10.) Southern King Crab Southern King Crab or Lithodes santolla is a large king crab species found off the Pacific coast of South America where it is known as Centolla. It is a commercially significant crab species.

See also Habitat & Species - Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Habitat & Species Contact SBEP Habitat & Species More than 1,400 native species of diverse plants and animals inhabit Sarasota Bay Estuary. The word habitat can be used to describe areas that benefit wildlife or as plant communities such as upland habitat or something more specific like coral reefs. Coastal ecosystems include marine and estuarine and coastal upland habitats. Estuarine habitat includes mangrove swamps, saltwater marshes, tidal flats, and seagrass beds. Marine habitat refers to ocean environments such as inter-tidal and ocean, hard bottom (coral and rock) and soft bottom substrates (sand and mud). Coastal upland habitat is the beach dune system and maritime forests. The following is a partial list of plant and animal species living in the Sarasota Bay Estuary. SBEP will continue adding new photos of local species of animals and plants to the gallery below. Bonnethead Shark – Dotty Motta Marine and Estuarine Vegetation Species: Five Types of Seagrass: Turtle Grass, Manatee Grass, Shoal Grass, Star Grass, and Widgeon Grass.

Three Species of Mangroves: White, Red and Black. Salt Marsh Vegetation: Christmas Berry, Sawgrass, Smooth Cord Grass, Needle/Black Rush, Marsh-Hay, Salt Meadow Cord Grass, Salt Joint Grass, Key Grass, Saltwort, Salt Grass, Annual Glasswort, Coastal Arrowhead, and Perennial Glasswort. Marine Algae and Plankton: Sargassum, Dictyota, Sewing Threat Seaweed, Sea Lettuce, Dino Neuro Toxin (Red Tide), Dinoflagellate, Dead Man’s Fingers, Green Agae, Red Algae, Dino Ciguatoxin, and Sea Hair. Mangrove Coastal Upland Vegetation: Trees and Palms: Cabbage Palm, Silver Palm, Slash Pine, Jamaica Dogwood, Jamaica Caper Tree, Ironwood, Paradise Tree, Torchwood, Red Bay, Live Oak, Myrtle Oak, Chapman’s Oak, Southern Red Cedar, Pigeon-Plum, Bay Cedar, Cat Claw, Poisonwood, Strangler Fig, Butterbough, and Sea Grape.

Shrubs: Narrow Leaf Ground Cherry, Christmas Better, Salt Bush, Gallberry, Inkberry, Saw Palmetto, Seaside Ground Cherry, Saffron Plum, Rosemary, Yaupon Holly, Winged Sumac, Wild Coffee, Shortleaf Wild Coffee, and Florida Privet. Cactus and Succulents: Spanish Bayonet and Prickly Pear Cactus. Grasses: Sea Oats, Gulfdune Muhly Grass, Beach Cordgrass, Coastal Bluestem, Beach Grass, Shore Grass, Stiffleaf, Seashore Dropseed, and Seashore Paspalum. Herbs and Vines: Sea Lavender, Matrimony Vine, Greenbriar, Fox Grape, Beach Sunflower, Sea Daily, Blue Porterweed, Capeweed, Pepper Vine, Poison Ivy, Virginia Creeper, Morning Glory, Beach Morning Glory, Railroad Vine, Beach Pennywort, Sea Rocket, Beach Chaff-Flower, Saltweed, and Sea Purslane.

Sea Urchin Non-native: Australian Pine, Coconut Palm, Hawaiian Half Flower, Sea Side Mahoe, Carrotwood, Brazilian Pepper, Asiatic Colubrina, Seville Orange, Key Lime, Guava, Papaya, Tamarind, and Lead Tree. Invertebrate Species: Sponges and Corals: Red Beard Sponge, Vase Sponge, Green Finger Sponge, Purple Sea Fan, Common Sea Fan, Sea Whip, Fire Sponge, and Palmer’s Sea Rod. Coelenterates and Tunicates: Portuguese Man of War, Pink-Tipped Anemone, Pale Anemone, Ghost Anemone, Muller’s Sea Pansy, Moon Jellyfish, Comb Jelly, Painted Tunicate, and Mangrove Tunicate. Polychaetes: Sabellariid Worms, Atlantic Tube Worm, Lugworm, Blood Worm, and Parchment Tube Worm.

Starfish Molluscs: Spotted Sea Hare, Mud Snail, Coquina Clam, Atlantic Bay Scallop, Whelk, Stiff Pen Shell, Quahog Clam, Queen Conch, Marsh Periwinkle, Eastern Oyster, Keyhole Limpet, Atlantic Long-Finned Squid, Atlantic Octopus, Banded Tulip Shell, Shark’s Eye, Florida Worm Snail, Common Slipper Shell, Angel Wing, Turkey Wing, and Ribbed Mussel. Echinoderms: Common Sea Star, Banded Luidia, Forbes Sea Staf, Banded-arm Brittle Star, Striped Sea Star, Variegated Sea Urchin, Sand Dollar, Long-Spined Sea Biscuit, Common Starfish, and Florida Sea Cucumber.

Crustaceans: Ivory Barnacle, Goose-necked Barnacle, Sessile Barnacle, Little Striped Barnacle, Stone Crab, Ghost Crab, Blue Crab, Sand Fiddler Crab, Long-Clawed Hermit Crab, Common Mantis Shrimp, Spotted Cleaning Shrimp, Red-Lined Cleaning Shrimp, Grass Shrimp, Pink Shrimp, Large-Claw Snapping Shrimp, Banded Coral Shrimp, Spiny Lobster, Big-Eyed Beach Flea, Mole Crab, Mangrove Tree Crab, Marsh Fiddler Crab, Land Hermit Crab, Sea Cockroach, and Atlantic Horseshoe Crab. Juvenile Blue Crab Coastal Insects: Digger Wasp, Tiger Bettle, Velvet Ant, Black Salt Marsh Mosquito, Seaside Grasshopper, Golden-silk Spider, Dune Wolf Spider, Great Southern White, Schaus’ Swallowtail, Monarch, Gulf Fritillary, Mangrove Skipper, Mallow Scrub-Hairstreatk, Eastern Pygmy Blue, Mangrove Buckeye, Large Orange Sulphur, Cassius Blue, Common Buckeye, Florida Leafwing, Malachite, Rudy Daggerwing, and Emerald Moth.

Non-native: Asian Tiger Mosquito and Pacific Swimming Crab. Reptiles & Amphibians Species: Green Treefrog, Southern Leopard Frog, Southern Toad, and Squirrel Treefrog. Aquatic Reptiles: American Crocodile, Suwannee Cooter, River Cooter, Common Mud Turtle, Diamondback Terrapin, Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Mole Skink, Florida Reef Gecko, Florida Scrub Lizard, Island Glass Lizard, Six-Lined Lizard, Racerunner, Salt Marsh Snake, Marsh Brown Snake, Florida Crowned Snake, Florida Green Water Snake, Florida Swamp Snake, Eastern Coachwhip Snake, and Florida King Snake. Gator – Marina Scarr Marine Toad, Cuban Tree Frog, and Curly-Tailed Lizard. Saltwater Fish Species: Sharks and Rays: Southern Stingray, Atlantic Manta Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Yellow Sting Ray, Bull Shark, Tiger Shark, Bonnet Head Shark, Small Tooth Sawfish, Nurse Shark, Hammerhead Shark, and Sand Tiger Shark.

Bony Fish: Sailfish, Great Barracuda, Tarpon, King Mackerel, Atlantic Croaker, Atlantic Spadefish, Spanish Mackerel, Permit, Sheepshead, Cobia, Amberjack, Black Sea Bass, Rock Sea Bass, Red Snapper, Crevalle Jack, and Gag Grouper. Shallow-water Feeders: Spotted Trout, Snook, Florida Pompano, Gray Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, and Striped Mullet. Tarpon Blue Angel, Queen Parrotfish, and Queen Triggerfish. Bottom Feeders: Gulf Sturgeon, Gafftopsail Catfish, Red Drum, and Bonefish. Baitfish: Inland Silverside, Gulf Menhaden, Atlantic Thread Herring, Spanish Sardine, Gulf Killifish, and Pinfish. Unusual Species: Lined Seahorse, Striped Burrfish, Atlantic Needlefish, Atlantic Flyingfish, Spotted Moray, and Gulf Toadfish.

Snowy Egret – Barbara Bowen Waterbird Species: Wading birds: Wood Stork, Great Blue/White Heron, Tri-Colored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Green Backed Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, and White Ibis. Diving Birds and Waterfowl: Common Loon, Double Crested Cormorant, Horned Grebe, Red-Breasted Merganser, Ring-Necked Duck, Blue-Winged Teal, American Black Duck, and American Coot. Shorebirds: American Avocet, Ruddy Turnstone, Piping Plover, Willet, American Oystercatcher, Killdeer, Western Sandpiper, and Sanderling. Sea Birds: Magnificent Frigatebird, Northern Gannet, Laughing Gull, Great White Pelican – Ron Wooldridge Black-Backed Gull, Ring-Billed Gull, Herring Gull, Royal Tern, White Pelican, Brown Pelican, and Black Skimmer.

Birds of Prey: Osprey, Broad-Winged Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, and Black Vulture. Coastal Upland Species: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow Warblet, Black-Whiskered Vireo, Fish Crow, Gray Kingbird, Common Ground Dove, and Mangrove Cuckoo. Coastal Marsh Species: Tree Swallow, Marsh Wren, Seaside Sparrow, Sharp-Tailed Sparrow, and Clapper Rail. Mammal Species: Osprey – Marina Scarr Coastal Marsh and Mangrove: Florida Saltmarsh Vole, Least Shrew, Round-Tailed Muskrat, Cotton Rat, Marsh Rice Rat, Marsh Rabbit, Cotton Mouse, Mink, Raccoon, and Striped Skunk. Coastal Uplands: Eastern Wood Rat, Beach Mouse, Cotton Mouse, Virginia Opossum, Florida Fox Squirrel, Raccoon, River Otter, Key Deer, and Little Mastiff Bat. Marine Mammals: Bottlenose Dolphin, Short-Finned Pilot Whale, Pygmy Sperm Whale, and Florida Manatee.

Exotics: Crabs in Florida: A brief summary of the Blue, Fiddler and Stone Crab found in Florida. Crabs in Florida: A brief summary of the Blue, Fiddler and Stone Crab found in Florida. This topic submitted by Leela Sequeira ( lee_seq@yahoo.com ) at 9:18 AM on 6/7/02. A sobering view of a Two-toed Sloth as it makes its way along utility lines on our way to Monteverde Preserve. This is what can happen to animals faced with disappearing habitat. Tropical Field Courses - Western Program - Miami University Crabs are in the phylum arthopoda, Crustacea class and of the decapod order. Thus they are related to shrimp and lobsters. However, unlike the lobster and shrimp they have evolved to walk and run sideways, and burrow. The body of the crab is covered with a chitinous shell called a carapace. The carapace of the crab varies in size and color depending on the species and gender of the crab. Crabs are abundant in marshes, tidal flats and mangroves. A study done by Thayer et al.

(1987) shows that the number of fish found in Florida�s mangroves were 35 times more abundant than those found in the adjacent sea grass beds due to the abundance of macro and micro invertebrates such as crabs, mollusk and plankton. Crabs have a good ability of adapting to changing environments and play a vital role in the ecology of these environments. The large commercial crabs that come to mind in Florida are the Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), Fiddler crab (Uca pugnax ) and the Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria) that are mainly harvested for their claw or as they are technically called chelipeds (chela= “claw” and ped= “foot”). This paper goes into detail about these three crabs and their vital role in their ecosystem. Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Figure 1. A male blue crab Source: The blue crab is the largest of the three crabs discussed in this paper and are more favored by connoisseurs. Their distinct blue colored claws as seen in figure1 can distinguishes and gives these crabs their name.

The male blue crab is commonly called “Jimmy” while the female is called a “Sook”. The shape of a blue crabs abdomen helps differentiate between a male and female blue crab. The male has a narrow inverted T-shaped apron on its abdomen while the mature female has a U shaped abdomen (figure 2 and 3). The female blue crabs also have red claw tip which are not seen in the males. Only the male blue crabs are harvest since each female crab has a potential to release a large amount of eggs of which only a small number will survive and keep the add to their numbers (1). Figure 2: The T shaped apron on the male blue crab abdomen Figure 3. A mature female U shaped apron on its abdomen. Blue crabs have a diverse habitat due to heir broad tolerance ranges of te2mperature and salinity. In the United States their range is from Massachusetts to Florida, Louisiana and Texas (2). Mating The Blue crab mates and spawns in the Gulf or lower bays where the salinity is approximately 20ppt. A female blue crab only mates once in its life. Like most crabs the female becomes sexually mature only after its pubertal molt.

The females shell is soft after the molt and it is at this time that mate will occur. The female blue crab can spawn eggs within a period of two to nine months after mating. The fertilized eggs are extruded as a cohesive mass, or "sponge," which remains attached to her abdomen until the larvae emerge. The average sponge contains about two million eggs and is formed in about two hours. Life Cycle & Feeding Habits Like other crustaceans the blue crab also goes through a series of growth stages such as larval, juvenile and adult. The first larval stage or zoeae feed on small plankton later develop into second and final larval stage (megalops), which are omnivorous and in turn becomes a juvenile. The larvae hatch in the bay area and are carried to sea by the tides. They tend to migrate within the water column when at sea. After about a year to a year and a half the blue crabs reaches adult hood and is sexually mature. The female stops molting and growth after this point but the male continues to grow. Before molting, a new shell is formed underneath the old exoskeleton, which then loosens and is cast off.

The new shell is initially soft, but it expands and hardens in a few hours. Adult Blue crabs are known to be scavengers, bottom dwellers and detritivores and omnivores. They locate their food using a combination of chemical senses and touch. Ecological Importance The ecological significance that Blue crabs have is that they maintain benthic populations and are important prey to animals higher up on the food chain. Like the fiddler crab the blue crab has the ability for autotomy to prevent capture. These limbs are later regenerated. Fiddler Crab ( genus Uca) Figure 4. The Atlantic marsh fiddler crab(Uca pugnax) Source: Fiddler Crab or Atlantic marsh fiddler crab is the common name for Uca pugnax. It is is of the Ocypodidae family within the Decapoda order. They are also one of the most thoroughly studied shore crab studied in North America, because of their ecological role in salt marshes. Crabs belonging to the Uca genus are moderate to large in size and are characterized by the males are distinguished by their one large cheliped that makes them asymmetrical.

There are currently 97 different species and subspecies of fiddler crabs. There are three common species namely, the Atlantic marsh/mud crab (U. pugnax), Red Jointed crab(U. minax) and the sand fiddler crab(U. pilator) (figure 5).The geographic range of the fiddler crab extends from the inter tidal marshes from Providence town, MA to Daytona Beach, FL. Figure 5. The different sub species of Atlantic marsh fiddler crabs comparing the size of their large claw. The fiddler crab is mostly brown but has a blue- blue green coloration on its anterior part of its carapace and the eyestalks. The Atlantic marsh fiddler crab does not have red or purple spots on its carapace like the Red Jointed and Sand Fiddler crabs. The large claw of red jointed fiddler crab is the largest, while the sand fiddler crab has the smallest claw, which is about 20mm. The fiddler crab is the most conspicuous and abundant invertebrate in most salt marshes (4). The abundance of this crab on a particular day is proportional to the tidal height.

Feeding Habits The fiddler crabs can be found emerging in large numbers during low tide to feed. They feed by scrubbing organic matter of muddy particles in the substratum. The use their small claw for feed, which accounts for the male spending more time feeding than the female crab. Mating The mating rituals of these crabs include a series of visual and acoustical displays. The male usually waves his large claw in a circular fashion in the air while stamping its walking legs on the substrate (3). The female follows the male into the burrow where the copulation takes place. The fiddler crab unlike other crabs mate while the female’s exoskeleton is hard. It is found that the female lays 1500 to 94000 eggs. The size of the sponge or number of eggs per crab depends directly on the size of the size of the female. These eggs can hatch over a two hour period (5). Studies have shown that the larval releases coincide with the lunar cycles. There are high releases of larva seen during the spring and neap tides. This phenomenon is viewed as a survival technique.

During the spring and neap tides the zoeae (crab larva) have a chance of being swept from the marsh to the coastal waters and the chances of predation for the female in low. Life Cycle The crabs go through 5 zoeae stages and one megalop stage each lasting from 7days to a month. After the megalop stage they go through 2 crab stages during which they are weak and cling on to the substrate. The fiddler crab takes about a year to mature and molts at least 1 to 2 times a year. The molting of these crab’s exoskeleton is temperature dependant. Molting is inhibited at 20 o C or less. Ecological Importance The activities and by products of the fiddler crab can influence transfer of energy and nutrients within the marsh ecosystem. Theses crabs are very sensitive to pollutants and play and important role in balancing the salt marsh ecosystem. The three main ways in which fiddler crabs influence the nutrients cycles are: q Burrow excavations, this differentially affects the biomass of spartina alterniflora, a sea grass, at different tidal heights.

The burrows significantly increase the biomass of this grass that grows in the intermediate zone because of its effect on the sediment. Crab burrows increase soil drainage and soil oxidation -reduction potential thus increasing root function. Burrows also increase litter decomposition in the soil therefore increasing the availability of nutrients in the system. q Feeding perturbation, has the most extensive effect on this ecosystem. It increases agal growth and thus decreases crowding. The first 5mm of the marsh surface is turned over at least once a year (3, 5). q Fecal pellets is the third way in which crabs contribute to the nutrient input. Depending on the size of the marsh fecal pellets can over the entire area. An average amount of fecal pellets per crab per day is between 100to 200 and contributes about 9mg/m2 of organic nitrogen per day (5). The Stone crab (Menippe mercenaria) Figure 6. A fisherman holding a stone crab (on the right) their claws on the right. The stone crab is from the Xanthidae family of the Decapod order. It is the largest crab in its family.

The adult stone crabs found in Florida are light gray or tan dorsally on the carapace and cheliped, with dark brown spots and a creamish underside. They have distinctive yellow to white bands at the junctions of their segments on their brown legs. The juveniles are deep maroon to black with white tips on their chelae and four small dots on their dorsal carapace. They are formidable predators with massive claws well suited for breaking shells of mollusks open. The claws of these crabs are harvested and have the ability to regenerate within its first molt (6). The geographic extent of this crab is from Cape Lookout, NC to Gulf of Mexico, to the Bahamas, Cuba, and Jamaica. Another commonly found species of Stone crab in the strip reefs, near the west coast of Bimini also goes by the name of King crab. An armored shell that has many spikes and spines for protection covers its body (figure 7). It is well camouflaged with the reef, giving it additional protection. Figure 7. The stone crab in Bimini blending in with it’s surrounding. Life Cycle The female stone crab usually produces eggs from around spring and fall.

The spawns go through 5 larval stages before the form a megalopal, which last for 4 to 6 days. The development of the larvae takes place in the estuaries. The juveniles are omnivores and feed on mollusks, crustaceans, flatworms and vegetative matter. Peak abundance of adult stone crab is seen around late summer. There are large inter annual fluctuations in the abundance of these crabs this limiting large scale harvesting of these crabs. Feeding Habits The stone crab found in Bimini is a plant eater that hunts at night. They venture out at night and crawl all over the surface of the coral heads to hunt for leaves of algae growing on the corals (8) Ecological Importance Like all crabs the importance of this crab in the food chain is significant, but it is also has an added commercial consumer market that makes its existence important. The commercial harvests of these crabs like most other crabs in this region have been declining.

The statistics of the past 30years of fishing in this area shows a decline from around 7million lbs of stone crab in the 1960s and 70s to approximately 2 to 3 million lbs (8). The species of stone crab in Bimini helps keep the coral clean of algae. The algae that grow on the coral compete and eventually kill the coral if the grow in excess. Other organisms depend on the coral reefs so the Stone crab plays an important role in this ecosystem (9). Bibliography 1. .org 2. US Department of the Interior. Biological Services Program. Matagorda Bay, Texas: Its hydrology, evcology and Fishery resources. Jan 1980. 3. US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. Costal Ecology Group. Species Profile: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Costal Fisheries and Invertebratges( Mid Atlantic.Biological Report Washington D.C. 1989. 4. Montague, C.L. 1980. A natural history of temperate western Atlantic fiddler crabs (Genus Uca) with reference to their impact on the salt marsh. Contr. Mar. Sci.

23:25-55. 5. Krauter, J.N. 1976. Biodeposition by salt marsh invertebrates. Mar. Biol. 35:221-223. 6. Decourtsey, P.J.1979. Egg hatching rhythms in three speicies of fiddler crabs. Pages 399-406. E. Anylor and R.G. Hartnoll,eds. Cyclic phenomina in Marine plants and animals.Pergammon Press, NY. 7. \ Crustaceans | Britannica.com Crustaceans any member of the subphylum Crustacea (phylum Arthropoda), a group of invertebrate animals consisting of some 45,000 species distributed worldwide.

Displaying Featured Crustaceans Articles lobster any of numerous marine crustaceans (phylum Arthropoda, order Decapoda) constituting the families Homaridae (or Nephropsidae), true lobsters; Palinuridae, spiny lobsters, or sea crayfish; Scyllaridae, slipper, Spanish, or shovel lobsters; and Polychelidae, deep-sea lobsters. All are marine and benthic (bottom-dwelling), and most are nocturnal. Lobsters... crustacean any member of the subphylum Crustacea (phylum Arthropoda), a group of invertebrate animals consisting of some 45,000 species distributed worldwide. Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and wood lice are among the best-known crustaceans, but the group also includes an enormous variety of other forms without popular names. Crustaceans are generally aquatic and... mantis shrimp any member of the marine crustacean order Stomatopoda, especially members of the genus Squilla.

Mantis shrimps are so called because the second pair of limbs are greatly enlarged and shaped like the large grasping forelimbs of the praying mantid, or mantis, an insect. They use these appendages to smash through the shells of bivalved mollusks and other... shrimp any of the approximately 2,000 species of the suborder Natantia (order Decapoda of the class Crustacea). Close relatives include crabs, crayfish, and lobsters. Shrimp are characterized by a semitransparent body flattened from side to side and a flexible abdomen terminating in a fanlike tail. The appendages are modified for swimming, and the antennae... crab any short-tailed member of the crustacean order Decapoda (phylum Arthropoda)—especially the brachyurans (infraorder Brachyura), or true crabs, but also other forms such as the anomurans (suborder Anomura), which include the hermit crabs. Decapods occur in all oceans, in fresh water, and on land; about 10,000 species have been described. Unlike those...

hermit crab any crab of the families Paguridae and Coenobitidae (order Decapoda of the class Crustacea). These crabs use empty snail shells (e.g., whelk or periwinkle) or other hollow objects as a shelter for partial containment and protection of the body. Their bodies lack a hard protected carapace; without a shell they are extremely vulnerable to predators.... crayfish any of numerous crustaceans (order Decapoda, phylum Arthropoda) constituting the families Astacidae (Northern Hemisphere), Parastacidae, and Austroastracidae (Southern Hemisphere). They are closely related to the lobster. Over half of the more than 500 species occur in North America. Nearly all live in fresh water, although a few species occur in brackish... fiddler crab any of the approximately 65 species of the genus Uca (order Decapoda of the subphylum Crustacea). They are named “fiddler” because the male holds one claw, always much larger than the other, somewhat like a violin. Both claws in the female are relatively small.

In males, claws can be regenerated if they are lost. Fiddler crabs often occur in large... robber crab Birgus latro large nocturnal land crab of the southwest Pacific and Indian oceans. It is closely related to the hermit crab and king crab. All are decapod crustaceans (order Decapoda, class Crustacea). Adult robber crabs are about 1 metre (about 40 inches) from leg tip to leg tip and weigh about 4.5 kg (10 pounds). The full-grown adult ranges in colouring... barnacle any of more than 1,000 predominantly marine crustaceans of the subclass Cirripedia highly modified for sedentary life. There are about 850 free-living species (all marine) and about 260 species that are internal parasites of crabs and other crustaceans. A brief treatment of cirripedes follows. For full treatment, see cirripede. As adults, typical barnacles...

brine shrimp (genus Artemia), any of several small crustaceans of the order Anostraca (class Branchiopoda) inhabiting brine pools and other highly saline inland waters throughout the world. Artemia salina, the species that occurs in vast numbers in Great Salt Lake, Utah, is of commercial importance. Young brine shrimp hatched there from dried eggs are used widely... copepod Copepoda any member of the widely distributed crustacean subclass Copepoda. Copepods are of great ecological importance, providing food for many species of fish. Most of the 13,000 known species are free-living marine forms, occurring throughout the world’s oceans. Copepods are key components of marine food chains and serve either directly or indirectly... sow bug any of certain small, terrestrial crustaceans of the order Isopoda, especially members of the genus Oniscus. Like the related pill bug, it is sometimes called the wood louse. O. asellus, which grows to a length of 18 mm (0.7 inch), is widely distributed in Europe and has also been introduced into North America. The oval, gray body, which is rather...

king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), marine crustacean of the order Decapoda, class Malacostraca. This edible crab is found in the shallow waters off Japan, along the coast of Alaska, and in the Bering Sea. The king crab is one of the largest crabs, weighing 5 kg (11 pounds) or more. Its size and tasty flesh make it a valued food, and large numbers are commercially... isopod any member of the order Isopoda (class Crustacea), a group of diverse, widely occurring forms including marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species. Most are free-living, but a number of marine species are parasitic on other animals. They are usually inconspicuous. Most of the 10,000 species, which include the pill bug, the sow bug, and the gribble,... Dungeness crab (Cancer magister), edible crab (order Decapoda of the class Crustacea), occurring along the Pacific coast from Alaska to lower California; it is one of the largest and, commercially, most important crabs of that coast.

The male is 18 to 23 centimetres (about 7 to 9 inches) in width and 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in.) long. The reddish-brown upper surface... pill bug any of the terrestrial crustaceans of the families Armadillididae and Armadillidae (order Isopoda). When disturbed, the pill bug rolls itself up into a tiny ball. Like the related sow bug, it is sometimes called the wood louse. For mollusks also known as pill bugs, see chiton. The common pill bug Armadillidium vulgare (family Armadillididae) is about... decapod (order Decapoda), any of more than 8,000 species of crustaceans (phylum Arthropoda) that include shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, hermit crabs, and crabs. The presence of five pairs of thoracic legs (pereiopods) is the basis for the name decapod (from the Greek meaning “10 legs”). Members of the order exhibit great diversity in size and structure. The macrurous...

amphipod any member of the invertebrate order Amphipoda (class Crustacea) inhabiting all parts of the sea, lakes, rivers, sand beaches, caves, and moist (warm) habitats on many tropical islands. Marine amphipods have been found at depths of more than 9,100 m (30,000 feet). Freshwater and marine beach species are commonly known as scuds; those that occupy sand... malacostracan any member of the more than 29,000 species of the class Malacostraca (subphylum Crustacea, phylum Arthropoda), a widely distributed group of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial invertebrates. Lobsters, crabs, hermit crabs, shrimp, and isopods are all malacostracan crustaceans. Malacostracans are the most numerous and most successful of the four major... ghost crab Ocypode any of approximately 20 species of shore crabs (order Decapoda of the class Crustacea). O.

quadratus, the beach crabs noted for their running speed, occur on dry sand above the high-tide mark on the western Atlantic coast from New Jersey to Brazil. The crab, sandy or whitish in colour, has claws of unequal size and rather hairy legs. The back,... tadpole shrimp (order Notostraca), any member of a small group of crustaceans (subclass Branchiopoda, phylum Arthropoda), composed of the genera Triops and Lepidurus. The approximately 10 known species are strictly freshwater forms, inhabiting lakes, ponds, and temporary pools, chiefly in Europe and North America. The common name tadpole shrimp derives from the animal’s... fairy shrimp any of the crustaceans of the order Anostraca, so called because of their graceful movements and pastel colours. Some grow to 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) or more in length. They occur in freshwater ponds of Europe, Central Asia, western North America, the drier regions of Africa, and Australia. The most common species in Europe is Chirocephalus diaphanus;...

giant crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), species of spider crab native to Pacific waters near Japan. It occurs at depths of 50 to 300 m (150 to 1,000 feet). The largest specimens may be up to 3.7 m or more from the tip of one outstretched claw to another. The body is about 37 cm (15 inches) across, and the total weight of the body is more than 18 kg (40 pounds). The... krill any member of the crustacean order Euphausiacea or of the genus Euphausia within that suborder. Euphausiids are shrimplike marine animals that are pelagic in habit (i.e., they live in the open sea). They differ from true shrimp (order Decapoda) in that their gills are located on the swimming legs, and fewer legs are modified for feeding. They range... scampi (Nephrops norvegicus), edible lobster of the order Decapoda (class Crustacea).

It is widespread in the Mediterranean and northeastern Atlantic, from North Africa to Norway and Iceland, and as a gastronomic delicacy it is commercially exploited over much of its range, particularly by Great Britain, France, Denmark, and Italy. The scampi lives in burrows... mussel shrimp any of a widely distributed group of crustaceans belonging to the subclass Ostracoda (class Crustacea) that resemble mussels in that the body is enclosed within a bivalved (two-valved) shell. Mussel shrimp differ from most other crustaceans in having a very short trunk that has lost its external segmentation, or divisions. The 6,650 living species... branchiopod any of the roughly 800 species of the class Branchiopoda (subphylum Crustacea, phylum Arthropoda). They are aquatic animals that include brine shrimp, fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, water fleas, and other small, chiefly freshwater forms. Branchiopods are generally regarded as primitive crustaceans. Their long fossil record dates back to the Devonian...

whale louse (family Cyamidae), any of a small group of highly specialized peracaridan crustaceans (order Amphipoda) related to the familiar skeleton shrimp found in shallow marine habitats. Whale lice are external parasites that live on the body surface of such marine mammals as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They take refuge in skin lesions, genital folds,...

Question: Robber, Fiddler and Edible are all types of which creature?
Answer: Crab