Morphology data of Callinectes exasperatus
Identification keys
Main Ref. Tavares, M., 2003
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis Carapace less than twice as broad as long; 9 stout teeth on strongly arched anterolateral margin, all except outer orbital tooth and short lateral spine usually swept forward; front bearing 4 well-developed teeth (excluding inner orbital angles). Coarse scattered and transverse lines of granules on convex dorsal surface. Pincers robust, ridges and crests coarsely granulate; fifth legs flattened form of paddles. Male with T-shaped abdomen reaching posterior quarter of thoracic sternite 4; first pleopods reaching slightly beyond suture between thoracic sternites 6 and 7, sinuously curved, overlapping proximally, diverging distally to tips curved abruptly inward, armed distally with scattered minute spinules. Color: adult male dorsally purplish red, more accented on proto-, meso-, and metagastric areas and at base of lateral spines and anterolateral teeth; branchial region and anterolateral teeth obscure maroon; dorsal surface of all legs purplish red with intense orange red on articulations; inferior portions of merus, carpus, and fingers of chelipeds intense violet; internal and external portion of chelae as well as remaining ventral aspect of animal white with tints of soft purple.
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Callinectes exasperatus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
spines     
soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
spines     
soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary (e.g. cnidaria)
Comments & Corrections
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