Difference between male blue crab and female blue crab

Main difference

The main difference between male and female blue crabs lies in the shape of their apron and the color of their claws. Male blue crabs have a long, pointed apron and blue claws and females have a round apron and red claws.

Male blue crabs vs female blue crabs

Male blue crabs, also called “Jimmies,” have bright blue claws. Female blue crabs, also called “Sooks,” have red tips on their claws (like the red-painted nails of human females). There is a difference in the “apron” shape of the male and female blue crab. A differently shaped flap at the bottom of the crab is called an apron. Male blue crabs have a long, pointed apron. It is often jokingly called the Washington Monument. Mature female blue crabs have a rounded apron. People often jokingly say that it is shaped like the U.S. Capitol, and there are also some blue crabs with triangle-shaped aprons. These are immature females and are also called V bottoms. Male blue crabs have wider bodies and more pronounced spines. Female blue crabs have a slightly narrow body and their spines are not as prominent as the males. When it comes to molting, male blue crabs molt their shell about twenty times until they mature. Female blue crabs molt about eighteen times. Male blue crabs mate several times in their lives. Female blue crabs mate only once. The meat texture of the male blue crab is flaky. Female blue crabs have dense flesh. Its meat is also delicious to eat and the favorite dish of many people for its roe (eggs). Also, sailors call male blue crabs “jimmies,” adolescent female blue crabs “sally.” to adult female blue crabs “sooks”. Its meat is also delicious to eat and the favorite dish of many people for its roe (eggs). Also, watermen call male blue crabs “jimmies,” adolescent female blue crabs “sally,” adult female blue crabs “sooks.” Its meat is also delicious to eat and a favorite dish of many people for its roe (eggs). In addition, sailors call male blue crabs “jimmies”, adolescent female blue crabs “sally”, female blue crabs adult “sooks”. adolescent female blue “sally” crabs, adult female blue “sooks” crabs. Its meat is also delicious to eat and a favorite dish of many people for its roe (eggs). In addition, sailors call male blue crabs “jimmies”, adolescent female blue crabs “sally”, female blue crabs adult “sooks”. adolescent female blue “sally” crabs, adult female blue “sooks” crabs. Its meat is also delicious to eat and a favorite dish of many people for its roe (eggs). In addition, sailors call male blue crabs “jimmies”, adolescent female blue crabs “sally”, female blue crabs adult “sooks”.

Comparative chart
Male blue crabs Female blue crabs
Male blue crabs also called Jimmies are bright blue clawed crabs. Female blue crabs are also called Sooks for having red tips on their claws.
Change
Twenty times to maturity Eighteen times to maturity
Claw color
Blue Red
Body structure
Wider body with more pronounced spines. Slightly narrow body with less prominent spines
Apron shape
Signing up and registration Rounded
Meat texture
Scaly Dense

What are male blue crabs?

A male blue crab is also called “Jimmy” by boatmen. It can be identified by its bright blue chelipids or claws. A male blue crab can also be identified by the shape of his apron (a flap at the bottom of the crab). The apron of a male blue crab is long and has a pointed tip. Sailors often jokingly call it the Washington Monument. A male blue crab is also noted to have a distinctive broad shape and very pronounced spines. Determining the sexual adulthood of male blue crabs is difficult. However, it can be noticed that the apron of an adolescent male blue crab is closed. The adult male blue crab has locking spines adjacent to the fifth thoracic segment that keeps its apron closed. Considering that, the apron of an adult male blue crab can be opened freely. It is a sign of their willingness to mate. An adult male blue crab can mate many times during its life. The male blue crab molts or sheds its exoskeleton about twenty times before reaching adulthood. The meat of male blue crabs is believed to be flaky.

What are Female Blue Crabs?

Blue crabs are also called “sook” by the men of the water. They have red tipped claws. People resemble these red tips to the “red nails” of human women to easily remember this. They are identified by an inverted “U” or a bell-shaped apron. If turned upside down, you will notice this rounded or inverted U-shaped apron. People often jokingly say that it is shaped like the United States Capitol. An immature (adolescent) female blue crab is known as a “Sally” or “She-Crab” to watermen. It is easily identified by having an inverted or triangular “V” shaped apron. They are also called “V-bottoms” in some areas. A Sally’s apron is tightly closed to her body and won’t open because she can’t mate or carry eggs. The fin of a female blue crab opens when it reaches maturity. The open flap is used to carry eggs and mate. Female blue crabs mate only once in their life. They shed their shells about eighteen times until they become adults. In areas where catching female crabs is allowed, female blue crabs are eaten not only for their tasty meat but also for their roe (eggs). Female blue crabs are also believed to have dense meat. female blue crabs are eaten not only for their tasty meat but also for their roe (eggs). Female blue crabs are also believed to have dense meat. female blue crabs are eaten not only for their tasty meat but also for their roe (eggs). Female blue crabs are also believed to have dense meat.

Key differences

  1. Male blue crabs have bright blue claws, while females have red tips on the claws.
  2. Male blue crabs have a long, pointed apron on the other side. Mature females have a rounded apron, and immature blue females have triangle-shaped aprons.
  3. Male blue crabs have wider bodies and more pronounced spines; on the other hand, female blue crabs have a less wide body and less pronounced spines.
  4. Male blue crabs are called “sticks”, adolescent female blue crabs “sally” and adult female blue crabs “sooks” by boatmen.
  5. Male blue crabs molt about twenty times until they mature, while female blue crabs molt about eighteen times.
  6. Male blue crabs mate several times in their lifetime, on the contrary, female blue crabs only mate once in their lifetime.
Final Thought

Male Blue Crabs Female blue crabs are different from each other in the shape of their pron, the color of their claws, and the structure of their body, etc.

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