Butterfish
Peprilus tricanthus
Size
to 12"
Habitat
Coastal waters.
Baby Butterfish are often found sheltering in the tentacles of stinging jellyfishes, to which they are not immune. One slip and they're dead!
These crabs have the last pair of legs modified into paddles, with which they are remarkably fast and agile sideways swimmers. Apart from this, they retain the walking and burrowing abilities of other crabs. Swimming crabs are bad-tempered creatures that aggressively defend themselves. Large ones can pinch very painfully, so handle with care!
Blue Crab ( Blue-claw )
Callinectes sapidus
Profile by Bill Figley
and Ray Townsend
Size:
to 9" across
Range:
Cape Cod to Texas
Habitat:
Bays and estuaries, sometimes found in freshwater, spend their winters in the mud.
More: Swimming Crabs ...