Calico Crab

Ar-1470 CALICO CRABHepatus epheliticus

An attractive red and white spotted crab that survives well in the aquarium. It will normally bury completely out of sight in sand or light gravel but when food is placed in the aquarium it erupts dramatically to seize it. To demonstrate their striking respiratory current, place them in a shallow dish with just enough water to cover their legs and they pump a geyser of water several inches high. Size: 3-6 cm.

HABITAT

Their habitat ranges from the Chesapeake Bay to the western Bay of Campeche, Mexico. They are commonly found buried in sandy or muddy bottoms (Williams, 1984).

ANATOMY

REFERENCES

Williams, Austin B. Shrimps, Lobsters, and Crabs of the Atlantic Coast of the Eastern United States, Maine to Florida. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984, pp 280.

FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “Calico box crab.” 27 June 2014. Online image. Arthropod album. 3 December 2019 <https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwc/15310767626>