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)
 └Multicrustacea (Superclass)
  └Malacostraca (Class)
   └Eumalacostraca (Subclass)
    └Eucarida (Superorder)
     └Decapoda (Order)
      └Pleocyemata (Suborder)
       └Brachyura (Infraorder)
        └Portunoidea (Superfamily)
         └Portunidae (Family)
          └Portuninae (Subfamily)
           └Callinectes (Genus)
            └C. ornatus (Species)

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