Lady Crab
Ovalipes ocellatus
Physical: O. ocellatus have a pale grayish carapace with clusters of purple spots. They have five marginal teeth along the front of the carapace, and grow to a maximum of 15 cm. Their last set of paired appendages are called swimmerets, like the Blue Crab
Habitat: Lady Crabs range from Cape Cod (North), to as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. They live in shallow subtidal areas with a sandy bottom.
Feeding: Lady crabs are omnivorous scavengers that eat anything smaller or weaker than themselves.
Breeding: O. ocellatus produce an egg mass called a sponge. The eggs are fertilized internally and carried until they hatch.
