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![Photo #2 of 8 line0960.jpg Photo #2 of 8](/sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/https/s3.amazonaws.com/s3-east-testmedia-noaa.woc.noaa.gov/dam/Photos/legacy/pl23_line0960.jpg?itok=281D2bHo)
Description
Photo #2 of 8. Having reached the buster molt stage, a Maryland blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, sheds its shell. During its lifetime a crab may molt 20 to 25 times, increasing its size as much as 1/4 to 1/3 each time.The genus and species mean tasty beautiful swimmer. (Image credit: Mary Hollinger)
Photographer
Mary Hollinger
Display Date
1999 October 16
Location
Tangier Island, Virginia
Collection
America's Coastlines
Chesapeake Bay
Beautiful Swimmer - The Blue Crab
NOAA Affiliation
NODC biologist
Keywords
Coastline
Chesapeake Bay Virginia