The Life Cycle of the Magnificent Mud Crab
Posted by Meggs | Fish Life Cycle Posts | Posted on May 9th, 2008
The entrance to the middle of a drain is a great place to set your mudcrab trap
Greetings once again!
You will be pleased to know though that I am continuing to write my first eBook and with six chapters out of the way this is on track for the end of June so I’ll keep you posted on the www.skippermeggs.com site.
Ok, this week we’ll take a look at the humble but oh-so-delicious mud crab.
In Australia there are two species of mud crab that can be distinguished by colour. The larger of the two is the green mud crab Scylla Olivacea and the other is the brown mud crab Scylla Serrata.
Thankfully the mud crab reaches sexual maturity very quickly. This is achieved in their second year when their size is between 130mm and 170mm (measured across the top of their shell).
At most phases in their lives mud crabs will be found in inshore areas but when spawning the female mud crab will head offshore during the summer months.
Mud crabs “moult” their shell as they grow larger and sometimes are referred to as rattlers because when they ”moult” their meat does not entirely fill their new shell.
Female mud crabs have been found some 30km offshore in over 300 metres of water with upwards of five million eggs ready to disperse hidden under their abdominal flap!
Luckily there are so many eggs laid as barramundi, sharks and cod love to eat them.
Incubation of the eggs takes between two to four weeks.
Interestingly the currents sweep the mud crab larvae back in towards estuaries.
Mud crabs live for three to four years and can reach sizes up to 240mm and weighing over 3kg.
Like the southern Blue Swimmer crab female “jennies” can be recognised by the round flap on their underside whilst the male has a distinct “V” shaped area.
Next week I will discuss the life cycle of one of the torpedos of the sea.
Until then don’t forget to take a look at the eBay clip at;
http://skippermeggs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=35
Sea you later,
Skipper Meggs
this is awsome how did you know all about crabs wow well i’m 9 years old
You forgot to mention that the keeping of Jennys in Qld is an offence. That’s why we have far many more mud crabs than you cockroaches !
Yes, that is unfortunately sad but true. This is another area that NSW DPI should take a look at. On the upside it is illegal but I do believe that in general local crabbers favour throwing the jennies back.
Good to hear from you Rachael! I got to know a bit about mud crabs and a lot of other things by asking a heap of questions. Sooner or later someone a lot smarter than me always knew the answers.