About Panopeus herbstii H.Milne Edwards, 1834
Panopeus herbstii is a small crab that grows to around 6.4 cm wide. It has unequal-sized claws with black tips, a strong exoskeleton, and very thick, strong claws. Its shell is mostly dull gray and dark brown, while its belly is a lighter white. This species occurs along the Atlantic coast of North America, from Boston, Massachusetts to Santa Catarina, Brazil, and also lives on Bermuda. It is the most common xanthid crab on the east coast of the United States. It lives on muddy bottoms and oyster beds, taking refuge under stones and shells or among sponges and weeds, and is rarely seen in the open. Its frequent presence in oyster beds gives it easier access to prey for feeding. Like other crab species, Panopeus herbstii uses seasonal temperature shifts as a cue to time reproduction. Females mate when they are 18 to 24 months old and ready to breed. The female carries her fertilized eggs on her underside until they hatch, then releases planktonic larvae into the water. How long Panopeus herbstii lives is currently uncertain.
