Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Crustacea, Class Maxillopoda, Subclass Malacostraca

1. Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea, Class
Maxillopoda, Subclass Malacostraca

2. Portunus pelagicus
lower crab, blue crab, blue swimmer
crab, blue manna crab or sand crab,
also known as alimasag in Tagalog
found in the intertidal estuaries of
the Indian and Pacific Oceans (Asian
coasts) and the Middle-Eastern
coast of the Mediterranean Sea

3. Portunus pelagicus
stays buried under sand or mud
most of the time, particularly
during the daytime and winter
comes out to feed during high
tide on various organisms such as
bivalves, fish, and macroalgae

4. Portunus pelagicus
Male Female
Color Bright blue
with white
spots
Duller
green/brown
Distinction Long
chelipeds
More
rounded
carapace
Underside Triangular Round
(bigger)

5. MALE

6. FEMALE

8. Portunus pelagicus
Life Cycle
Zoea Megalopae Juvenile
crab
Spawning
and
berried
females
Young
Mating adults

9. Zoea

10. Megalopa

11. Juvenile Crabs

12. Mating Crabs

13. Berried Female Crab