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Photo #2 of 8

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.

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