Florent's Guide To The Florida, Bahamas &

Caribbean Reefs

Ornate Blue Crab
Callinectes ornatus
Ornate Blue Crab
Also known as: Shelligs crab
Category: Swimming Crabs
Scientific Name: Callinectes ornatus
Size: 3 to 5 in. (7 to 12 cm)  
Depth: 3-130 ft. (1-40 m)
Distribution: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil
Arthropoda (Phylum)
└Crustacea (Subphylum)
 └Malacostraca (Class)
  └Eumalacostraca (Subclass)
   └Decapoda (Order)
    └Pleocyemata (Suborder)
     └Brachyura (Infraorder)
      └Portunidae (Family)
       └Portuninae (Subfamily)
        └Callinectes (Genus)

Crustaceans
Swimming Crabs

Ornate Blue Crab

Atlantic Blue Crab

Sargassum Swimming Crab

Indo-Pacific Swimming Crab

Blackpoint Sculling Crab

Redhair Swimming Crab

Ocellate Swimming Crab

Blotched Swimming Crab

Speckled Swimming Crab



All Photographs
© 2025 Florent Charpin