Mississippi’s coastal waters are home to several fascinating crab species that contribute to both the state’s marine ecosystems and seafood industry.
From the popular Blue Crab to various other species, these decapod crustaceans play vital roles as scavengers and prey in the Gulf Coast’s biodiversity.
The Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) is Mississippi’s most common and commercially important crab species, known for its sweet, delicate meat that can be prepared in numerous ways including steaming, boiling, and sautéing.
Crabbing in Mississippi requires proper licensing, with regulations in place to protect these valuable marine resources from overfishing and environmental changes.
Recreational crabbers need a specific license that costs just $5 to catch crabs using traps for personal consumption.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources actively works to conserve and manage crab populations through its Shrimp & Crab Bureau, ensuring sustainable harvesting practices.
Beyond the Blue Crab, Mississippi waters host other interesting species that contribute to the region’s rich marine diversity.
The state’s natural science museum even maintains a collection of over 93 species of crustaceans including various crabs, shrimps, and crayfishes.
Whether you’re interested in commercial crabbing, recreational harvesting, or simply learning about these fascinating creatures, Mississippi’s crabs offer something for everyone to discover.
Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
The Blue Crab is one of Mississippi’s most valuable seafood resources. Known scientifically as Callinectes sapidus, these crustaceans are easily recognized by their bright blue claws and olive-green carapace.
Adult blue crabs may grow up to 9 inches in width. They have a distinctive T-shaped abdomen in males, while mature females display a semi-circular abdomen shape – a clear example of sexual dimorphism.
Physical Characteristics:
- Shell color: Olive-green to bluish
- Claw color: Bright blue (males), red-tipped (females)
- Size: Up to 9 inches wide
- Distinctive feature: Sharp lateral spines on carapace
Blue crabs thrive in Mississippi’s coastal waters year-round. They can be found in various habitats including estuaries, bays, and brackish water environments where they play important roles in the ecosystem.
The meat of these crabs is highly prized for its sweet, delicate flavor. Mississippi Gulf Blue Crabs are versatile and can be prepared in numerous ways.
Popular Cooking Methods:
- Steaming
- Boiling
- Deep frying
- Sautéing
- Grilling
Commercially, these crabs are captured using wire traps baited with fish. For recreational crabbers, simple hand lines or crab pots can yield successful catches along Mississippi’s coast.
When identifying blue crabs by gender, look at the claws and abdomen shape. Males have blue claws while females display bright red claw tips. This distinction helps fishers determine which crabs to keep and which to release.
Fiddler Crab (Uca spp.)
Fiddler crabs are small, semi-terrestrial crustaceans known for their remarkable sexual dimorphism. Males have one claw that is dramatically larger than the other, while females have two small, equally-sized claws. This oversized claw is used for attracting mates and defending territory.
In Mississippi, the most common species is the Gulf mud fiddler crab (Uca longisignalis). These crabs are abundant in the coastal salt marshes along the Gulf Coast and play an important ecological role in their habitats.
Physical Characteristics:
- Size: 2.5-3 cm (1-1.2 inches) in body width
- Color: Varies by species, often displaying browns, blues, or purples
- Distinctive feature: Males have one greatly enlarged claw
Fiddler crabs are primarily found in mangrove ecosystems and coastal marshes. They create burrows in the mud or sand where they seek shelter during high tide and extreme temperatures.
These crabs are osmoregulators, meaning they can control the salt concentration in their bodies. This adaptation allows them to thrive in the challenging conditions of tidal areas where salinity fluctuates.
The name “fiddler” comes from the male’s feeding behavior. When feeding, they move their small claw to their mouth repeatedly while holding the large claw up, resembling a musician playing a fiddle.
Fiddler crabs are active during low tide, when they emerge from their burrows to feed on algae, bacteria, and detritus in the sediment. They filter food particles from the mud using specialized mouthparts.
Ghost Crab (Ocypode quadrata)
The Atlantic ghost crab is the only ghost crab species found along the eastern coast of the United States, including Mississippi’s shorelines. These crabs get their name from their pale coloration—typically light straw-colored or grayish-white—which provides excellent camouflage against sandy beaches.
Ghost crabs measure about 2 inches (5 cm) across at maturity, with males typically larger than females. They have a distinctive square-shaped carapace, unequal claws, long walking legs, and large club-shaped eyestalks that give them excellent vision.
These crabs are incredibly fast, capable of traveling up to 10 mph across the sand. This speed helps them escape predators and catch prey on the beach.
Ghost crabs are primarily nocturnal, spending daylight hours in burrows that can reach depths of 3-4 feet. During winter months, they hibernate in these deep burrows to escape cold temperatures.
Physical characteristics:
- Square carapace
- Unequal-sized claws (chelipeds)
- Long walking legs
- Large club-shaped eyestalks
- Pale coloration (straw to gray-white)
Unlike many crab species, ghost crabs can mate anytime after sexual maturation, even when the female’s shell is hard. They are true crabs belonging to the family Ocypodidae, which also includes fiddler crabs.
Ghost crabs are essential components of beach ecosystems, serving as both predators and prey. They help maintain beach cleanliness by scavenging organic matter and control populations of small invertebrates.
Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria)
The Stone Crab is a distinctive crustacean that can be found along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. These crabs are easily recognized by their brownish red coloration with gray spots and tan undersides.
One of the most notable features of the Stone Crab is its asymmetrical claws. They possess large, unequally sized chelae (claws) with characteristic black tips. These powerful claws can crush shellfish and other prey.
Stone Crabs typically measure between 5 to 6½ inches wide across their carapace. Males and females show clear differences in their physical appearance. Female Stone Crabs typically have larger carapaces than males of similar age, while males generally develop larger claws.
Their habitat preferences include:
- Subtidal regions
- Areas under hard substrates
- Seagrass beds
- Just below the low tide line
Stone Crabs are burrowers by nature. Adult Stone Crabs generally dig burrows under emergent hard substrate or within seagrass beds.
The natural range of the Stone Crab extends from North Carolina’s Atlantic coast to the Gulf coast of Florida. In Mississippi, they can be found in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Interestingly, two species of stone crabs exist in the Southeastern United States: Menippe mercenaria in Florida and Menippe adina in the northern and western Gulf of Mexico, including Mississippi waters. These species differ in coloration, genetic makeup, and environmental tolerances.
Mud Crab (Panopeus spp.)
Mud crabs of the genus Panopeus are common inhabitants of Mississippi’s coastal waters. These small to medium-sized crabs belong to the family Panopeidae and play important roles in coastal ecosystems.
The Atlantic mud crab (Panopeus herbstii) is the largest species in this genus, reaching up to 6.4 cm in carapace width. This species is easily identified by its distinctive black or dark brown fingers on its claws.
Physical Characteristics:
- Rectangular or oval-shaped carapace
- Unequal-sized claws (one larger than the other)
- Dark-colored “fingers” on claws
- Brownish or grayish body coloration
These crabs prefer muddy habitats including salt marshes, oyster reefs, and mangrove areas. They hide under rocks, shells, and in burrows during low tide.
Mud crabs serve as important predators in coastal ecosystems. They feed primarily on:
- Small mollusks
- Barnacles
- Worms
- Plant material
- Detritus
The black-fingered mud crab helps control snail populations that might otherwise damage wetland vegetation, making them valuable for marsh health.
Several Panopeus species exist worldwide, with multiple species documented in North American waters. Each has adapted to specific microhabitats along the coast.
Mississippi’s mud crabs reproduce during warmer months. Females carry thousands of eggs under their abdomens until hatching. The larvae develop through several stages before becoming juvenile crabs.
Spider Crab (Libinia spp.)
The common spider crab (Libinia emarginata) is an interesting species that can be found along the coastal waters of Mississippi. These crabs have a distinctive appearance that sets them apart from other crabs in the region.
Spider crabs have a rounded carapace with a noticeable beak-like protrusion at the front. Their body typically measures about 4 inches in length, though they can vary in size.
What makes these crabs truly unique is their long, thin legs that give them a spider-like appearance. Their eight walking legs and two claws extend outward from their body, allowing them to move across the ocean floor with a deliberate, slow gait.
These crabs belong to a group known as “decorator crabs” because of their fascinating defense mechanism. They camouflage themselves by attaching various items to their shells including:
- Algae
- Small invertebrates
- Debris
- Sponges
- Hydroids
The portly spider crab typically has 8-9 spines on its carapace, while the longnose spider crab (another Libinia species) usually has 6 or fewer spines. Their khaki-colored bodies blend well with their surroundings.
Spider crabs are remarkably tolerant of polluted waters and can survive in low-oxygen environments. This adaptability helps them thrive in various conditions along the Mississippi coast.
Young spider crabs are not aggressive and move rather sluggishly across the seafloor. They must molt their shells to grow, shedding their old exoskeleton to reveal a new, larger one underneath.
Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) – Invasive And Uncommon
The Green Crab, scientifically known as Carcinus maenas, is one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. This invasive species is not native to Mississippi or North America.
Green Crabs originated from European coasts, spanning from Iceland and Norway to West Africa. They have successfully invaded six major regions globally, including the Northwest Atlantic from Maryland to Newfoundland.
Physical Characteristics:
- Shell width: 2-4 inches
- Color: Typically green, but can vary from red to dark brown
- Five distinctive spines on each side of the shell
- Three rounded lobes between the eyes
These crabs thrive in various habitats, including rocky shores, cobble beaches, and salt marshes. They can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and salinities, making them highly adaptable.
In Mississippi, Green Crabs remain uncommon but pose a significant threat if populations establish. They are voracious predators that feed on clams, oysters, mussels, and other small marine animals.
The environmental impact of Green Crabs is severe. They alter their new environment by destroying eelgrass beds and competing with native species for resources.
What makes Green Crabs particularly concerning is their ability to spread rapidly despite having low genetic diversity. They likely arrived in North America through ballast water or fouled equipment on ships.
If spotted in Mississippi waters, residents should report sightings to state wildlife officials immediately to help prevent further spread of this destructive invasive species.
Flat-Clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus pollicaris)
The Flat-clawed Hermit Crab is a common species found along Mississippi’s coastal waters. This interesting crustacean belongs to the Atlantic coast ecosystem, stretching from New Brunswick all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
This hermit crab goes by several other names including gray hermit crab, shield hermit crab, thumb-clawed hermit crab, and warty hermit crab. Its scientific name is Pagurus pollicaris.
Physical Characteristics:
- Length: Up to 31 millimeters (1.2 inches)
- Width: Up to 25 millimeters (1 inch)
- Distinctive flat or broad claws
- Typically grayish in color
Unlike true crabs, these hermit crabs don’t grow their own shells. They inhabit abandoned shells of shark eye snails and whelks. This shell-borrowing behavior provides them protection from predators.
The flat-clawed hermit crab has interesting dietary habits. It consumes organic matter, algae, and sometimes even other hermit crabs. This makes them both scavengers and opportunistic predators in their ecosystem.
An interesting fact about these crabs is that they often share their shells with a commensal zebra flatworm (Stylochus ellipticus). This relationship allows both creatures to benefit without harming each other.
Mississippi beachcombers can often spot these hermit crabs in shallow coastal waters. They’re fascinating to observe as they scuttle along carrying their borrowed homes on their backs.
When visiting Mississippi beaches, look for these crabs in tidal pools and shallow areas. Their distinctive flat claws make them relatively easy to identify compared to other hermit crab species in the region.
Long-Clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus longicarpus)
The Long-Clawed Hermit Crab is a fascinating species found along the Mississippi coast. Unlike typical crabs, these creatures lack a protective shell of their own and must find empty gastropod shells to inhabit.
These hermit crabs can reach up to half an inch in shell length. Their body coloration varies, typically appearing in gray, green, or white shades, helping them blend into their coastal environments.
A distinctive feature of this species is its asymmetrical claws. The right claw is much larger than the left, and both claws typically display a tan or gray stripe down the middle, making identification easier for observers.
As they grow, Long-Clawed Hermit Crabs must find larger shells for protection. They commonly use empty shells from periwinkles, snails, and other gastropods found in Mississippi’s coastal waters.
Physical Characteristics:
- Color: Gray, green, or white
- Size: Up to half an inch (shell length)
- Right claw larger than left
- Distinctive stripe on claws
- Soft exoskeleton (requires shell protection)
These crabs play an important role in coastal ecosystems. They help clean up organic matter along shorelines and serve as food for larger predators in the food chain.
The Long-Clawed Hermit Crab can be found in various coastal habitats in Mississippi, from sandy beaches to marshy areas. They prefer shallow waters where empty shells are plentiful.
