Common Mud Crab Panopeus herbstii
Mud crabs help keep the ecosystem balanced by snacking on snails that would otherwise eat all the aquatic plants!
ORIGIN:
West Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Brazil
HABITAT:
Oyster beds, mangroves and rocky sandy bottoms
HEIGHT/WEIGHT:
Length: 1-2 in
DIET:
Worms, oysters, barnacles and small fish
PREDATORS:
Birds and larger crabs and fish
NATURAL DEFENSES:
Pincers and a tough shell
REPRODUCTION:
Female carried eggs on her abdomen until they hatch
THREATS:
None
LIFE EXPECTANCY: