Harris Mud Crab

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Upper Bay
Location: Bay Bridge

We caught a nice bunch of white perch under the Bay Bridge today. While cleaning them, I found this little crab � still alive � in the mouth of one of the perch. The whole crab, legs and all could have been covered by a nickel.

Is this what a juvenile Blue Crab looks like, or are there other species of crab in the bay?

DNR Response: It is a Harris mud crab, they are small crabs that live on oyster reefs, muddy bottoms, marshes etc.