Crabs and Shellfish
Dozens of species of crabs and shellfish live in the Bay's waters, wetlands and shorelines.
Dozens of species of crabs and shellfish live in the Bay's waters, wetlands and shorelines. Some, like oysters and blue crabs, are well-known and easy to recognize. Others, such as amphipods and isopods, are not quite as familiar to most of us, but are abundant members of the Bay community.
What types of crabs and shellfish live in the Bay?
The Bay's crabs and shellfish fall under two broad categories: mollusks and arthropods.
Mollusks include:
- Bivalves, which have two valves (shells) and a foot. Clams, oysters, mussels and scallops are all bivalves.
- Snails, or gastropods, which have one shell.
- Cephalopods, which have an internal shell. The only Bay cephalopod is the brief squid.
Arthropods have an exoskeleton, or external skeleton, and must molt to grow. Arthropods include:
- Crustaceans, which are primarily aquatic and include crabs, shrimps, barnacles, amphipods and isopods.
- Horseshoe crabs, which are not true crabs. They are more closely related to terrestrial spiders and scorpions.
- Chesapeake Bay Life > Benthos: Information from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources about a few species of clams, crabs and amphipods that are part of the Bay's benthic community.