The crab abdomen, which is folded under the body.

  Known by its scientific name Callinectes sapidus

" means "beautiful swimmer," and "sapidus

  The swimming or paddle fin. The rear-most fin of the crab, which is a flat, oval-shaped swimming fin. Also a type of crab meat.

  A crab with a leathery, semi-hard shell, approximately 12 to 24 hours after molting; the stage past the paper shell stage.

  Crab in an advanced stage of molting, wherein the old exoskeleton (hard shell) has cracked under the lateral spines.

  Top part of the shell of the crab.

Class of invertebrates to which the Atlantic blue crab belongs; the crab is a crustacean.

  The gills, elongated, spongy-looking organs. The term probably refers to the fact that the gray "shriveled" gills vaguely resemble the fingers of a dead person. They are not poisonous but do have an unpleasant taste and texture. Remove and discard when cleaning crabs.

  Mating crabs; the male carries the soft-shell female crab, which has just completed its terminal molt, beneath it.