Snow Crab

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), has a circular body with five pair of long and flattened legs. They have light brown color on their back and creamy white color on their belly. The male of these species is bigger than the females. They grow up to a size of about (9.5 to 15) cm in length and weigh up to about 350 gm to 1.3 kg. The carapace of these species is as long as wide. The size of the carapace in the males is around 69.3 mm in length and 69.3 mm in width. And the size of the carapace in females is 53.8 mm in length and 54.5 mm in width. They have short pinchers. The meat of this species is very delicious and it turns bright orange when cooked.

Habitat and Distribution

The Chionoecetes opilio is found in the sand and mud. These species are often found in muddy water at a depth of around (13 to 2187) meters. It has been recorded that these species are mostly found at the depth of 110 metes. These creatures occur mainly in the Atlantic Ocean, right from the northern Labrador to the Gulf of Maine. The adults are found throughout the year at the temperature of about (0 to 5) degree Celsius. They can also be found at the temperature of 10 degree Celsius.

Diet

The sea creatures are scavengers and feed on a variety of food. They feed on worms,mollusks, brittle stars and crustaceans.

Life Cycle

The fertilization in these species is internal and the species go through molting before they mate. During mating the male of these species transfer the sperm sac in to the female’s abdomen. The females can have 150000 fertilized eggs in their abdomen. The incubation period in these creatures is around (14 to 16) days. The larvae take two months to grow as a crab. The hatchlings have a danger of being washed away by the tidal high currents of the ocean. Moreover, the hatchlings, which reach to the bottom of the ocean only survive. They live in the ocean floor for sometime till they grow as an adult crab. These species have a life span of around (5 to 6) years.

Ecology and Biology

These Chionoecetes opilio are closely related to the tanner crab, which is found in the cold northern seas. They are popular among commercial species as they have thin exoskeleton. These sea animals are fished by the commercial fishing boats, which are (40 to 250), in length. It has been legally announced that the fishing of these species should be in a limited quantity. The females should not be fished as it may decrease the population of these species.

Snow Crab Recipes

The recipes of these species are very popular among the crab eaters. The meat of these species is very delicious in their taste. So, they are in high demand in the commercial market for restaurants and hotels. The one of the most interesting creature of the sea has one of the tastiest popularity among the crab eaters.