Menippe mercenaria
(Say, 1818)
Florida Stone Crab
Menippe mercenaria is a commercially harvested brachyuran crab native to the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The inhabits coastal marine environments including salt marshes and nearshore hard-bottom . Research has documented sensitivity to reduced seawater pH, with acidic conditions elevating stress and reducing foraging activity. Larvae exhibit vertical swimming in the water column. The species is known for frequent behavior using third maxillipeds to maintain gill function.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Menippe mercenaria: /mɛˈnɪpe mɜːrsəˈnɛəriə/
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Habitat
Coastal marine environments including nearshore hard-bottom areas, salt marshes, and estuarine systems. Documented from South Carolina and Georgia salt marshes through Gulf of Mexico coastal waters.
Distribution
Western North Atlantic from Connecticut to Belize, including the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, The Bahamas, and the East Coast of the United States. Present in France according to GBIF distribution records.
Life Cycle
Larval stage exhibits vertical swimming in the water column. is influenced by cues from multiple environments.
Behavior
Frequent and effective using third maxillipeds to clean gills and body surfaces, resulting in lower gill fouling compared to sympatric blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Documented agonistic behavior including aggressive interactions between conspecifics in competitive contexts. Foraging activity is reduced under seawater pH conditions of 7.6 compared to control pH 7.8, with associated elevated stress levels. Larvae display vertical swimming behavior in the water column.
Human Relevance
Widely harvested for food; commercially important fishery in the southeastern United States. Subject of research on ocean acidification impacts due to economic importance.
Similar Taxa
- Menippe adinaGulf stone crab; sometimes considered a of M. mercenaria. The two can interbreed and form hybrids where ranges overlap.
More Details
Ocean Acidification Sensitivity
Experimental exposure to reduced pH (7.6) for 12 hours elevated stress levels and reduced foraging activity compared to control pH (7.8), suggesting physiological sensitivity to coastal acidification events.
Grooming Adaptation
More frequent and effective compared to blue crabs results in measurably lower gill fouling, representing a maintenance for benthic life in detritus-rich environments.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Agonistic behaviour of the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria (Say)
- Vertical swimming behavior in larvae of the Florida stone crab, Menippe mercenaria
- Grooming behaviors and gill fouling in the commercially important blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and stone crab (Menippe mercenaria)
- Habitat-related phenotypic variation in adult Western Atlantic stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria Say, 1818) (Decapoda: Brachyura)
- A survey of trace element distribution in tissues of stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria) from South Carolina Coastal Waters
- THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HORMONAL CONTROL OF GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION IN THE ADULT FEMALE STONE CRAB,MENIPPE MERCENARIA(SAY)
- Multiple cues from multiple habitats: Effect on metamorphosis of the Florida stone crab, Menippe mercenaria
- Lower seawater pH reduces the foraging activity of the Florida stone crab, Menippe mercenaria (Say, 1818) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Menippidae)