Blue Swimmer Crab

Blue Swimmer Crab Latest News

Recently, ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai, has successfully demonstrated Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus reticulatus) farming technology for the first time.

About Blue Swimmer Crab

• It is a brachyuran crab in the Portunidae family.
• It is also known as the blue crab, blue swimmer crab, blue manna crab and flower crab.
• Appearance: It is usually recognized by flat, disc-shaped hind legs, used as paddles for swimming, and by the nine spikes or horns along their carapace, on either side of their eyes.
• Distribution: It is found in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, India, Sweden, Singapore
• In India it is distributed all along the east and west coasts with a dominant fishery at Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar.
• Characteristics
  • They stay buried under sand or mud most of the time, particularly during the daytime and winter, which may explain their high tolerance to ammonium (NH4+) and ammonia (NH3).
  • Diet: They come out to feed during high tide on various organisms such as bivalves, fish and, to a lesser extent, macroalgae.

Source: PIB

‹ ›