By Andy Wood Photography by Allison Potter B E A U T I F U L swimmers The blue crab’s scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, is a favorite among marine biologists and educators because, translated from its Greek and Latin origins, the name describes this crab as a beautiful swimmer, and savory too (Calli for beautiful, nectes for swimmer and the Latin root sapidus for savory or tasty). Crabs are members of the order Decapod (deca for ten, pod for foot), a group of mostly aquatic crustaceans that also includes the familiar lobsters, shrimps and cray-fish. Names aside, blue crabs are important members of our coastal ecosystem and worth much more to us than simply a tasty meal. A lively blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in a tidal saltmarsh creek, where it can hunt small fishes, snails, clams and other crabs. 35 www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
2014-8
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