The Stone Crab
Although commonly known as Florida stone crabs, the Menippe Mercenaria are found in many regions of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Western Atlantic, including as far North as Connecticut. The crab is commonly found in the waters of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, in the Gulf states of Texas and Alabama, and in the Bahamas and Cuba. The stone crab is harvested for food, and it has become prized for the delicious meat contained in its claws.
The Florida stone crab is characterized by a brownish red color, mottled with gray spots, and an adult's carapace will typically be around five to six inches wide. Their most notable feature is their pair of unequally sized claws, which are tipped in black. Stone crabs live in the grass flats of the bays (ie Biscayne Bay) and around rocky areas and oyster beds, similar to the habitat of blue crabs. Juveniles prefer rocky bottoms and jetties where they can hide from predators, while adults burrow into sandy or muddy bottoms, lying in wait for their next meal. The stone crab diet consists of oysters and other crustaceans, and they will also eat seagrass and carrion.
The Florida stone crab is characterized by a brownish red color, mottled with gray spots, and an adult's carapace will typically be around five to six inches wide. Their most notable feature is their pair of unequally sized claws, which are tipped in black. Stone crabs live in the grass flats of the bays (ie Biscayne Bay) and around rocky areas and oyster beds, similar to the habitat of blue crabs. Juveniles prefer rocky bottoms and jetties where they can hide from predators, while adults burrow into sandy or muddy bottoms, lying in wait for their next meal. The stone crab diet consists of oysters and other crustaceans, and they will also eat seagrass and carrion.
Magical Claws
One of the most unique characteristics of the stone crab is that it has the
ability to self-amputate its claws to escape a predator. Even more amazing is
that similar to an octopus that loses an arm, the stone crab will eventually
regrow the limb. In Florida and the Gulf Coast of the United States, a commercial fishery has developed over the years that capitalizes on both the delicious taste of the meat within the stone crab claw, and the sustainability of the species. When the fisherman harvests the crab, he will remove one or both of the claws (if they are legal size), and then he will return the animal to the ocean, hopefully to be caught again when its claws have regrown.
ability to self-amputate its claws to escape a predator. Even more amazing is
that similar to an octopus that loses an arm, the stone crab will eventually
regrow the limb. In Florida and the Gulf Coast of the United States, a commercial fishery has developed over the years that capitalizes on both the delicious taste of the meat within the stone crab claw, and the sustainability of the species. When the fisherman harvests the crab, he will remove one or both of the claws (if they are legal size), and then he will return the animal to the ocean, hopefully to be caught again when its claws have regrown.
