CALICO CRABS

Pictured Here Is A Gulf Calico Crab (Hepatus epheliticus)

Calico Crabs are very agressive. Their back legs are modified to help them swim. They are covered in spots and have flat claws. Calico Crabs are sometimes called Pass Crabs or Spotted Lady Crabs. These Crabs are almost identical to Blue Crabs in shape, but they only grow to approximately four to five inches in width. You can catch Calico Crabs in south Florida during the outgoing tide on the surface, usually floating along with grass as it flows toward the Gulf. You simply take a long handled net and dip them out of the water.

Identification
The calico crab is very easily distinguished from all other local crabs. It is a swimming crab; its last pair of legs being very flat and paddle shaped. The carapace is nearly round and covered with small clusters of purple specks.  The claws are not very large but are sharp and fairly strong. It grows to about four inches across. (When sizing crabs they are measured across the carapace only, not the leg span.)

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