FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about The Maryland Blue Crab
Quiz about The Maryland Blue Crab

The Maryland Blue Crab Trivia Quiz


Grab a can of Natty Boh and some Old Bay, hon. It's crab pickin' time!

A multiple-choice quiz by Scoob44. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Animal Trivia
  6. »
  7. Invertebrates
  8. »
  9. Crustaceans

Author
Scoob44
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
206,443
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
713
Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (4/10), Guest 136 (4/10), Guest 75 (6/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The blue crab, while a favorite of Marylanders, is actually widespread along the North American coast ranging from as far north as Massachusetts to as far south and west as Texas. What area produces over 50% of the blue crab harvest every year? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The Latin name for the blue crab is "Callinectes sapidus", which means what? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which is not a term for an edible crab? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. How big was the largest recorded blue crab from Maryland from tip to tip of its shell? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What does it mean if there is a pink dot on the back fin of a crab? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Female crabs cannot mate with their shells on; they must wait until just after molting.


Question 7 of 10
7. Old Bay has been a Maryland staple for almost as long as crabs have been. The unique blend of spices is added to steamed crabs during and after cooking. Which spice is NOT found in Old Bay? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. How many appendages does a normal blue crab have, including claws and backfins? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. How are male blue crabs (jimmies) and female blue crabs (sooks) identified? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. How do blue crabs spend their winter? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 24: 4/10
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 136: 4/10
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 75: 6/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 167: 5/10
Feb 17 2024 : Guest 100: 5/10
Feb 04 2024 : mlpitter: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The blue crab, while a favorite of Marylanders, is actually widespread along the North American coast ranging from as far north as Massachusetts to as far south and west as Texas. What area produces over 50% of the blue crab harvest every year?

Answer: The Chesapeake Bay

The silty, less saline waters of the Chesapeake are ideal for blue crabs to scavenge, hide from predators, and mate. Smaller populations of blue crabs can be found outside of the U.S. ranging from Nova Scotia to Argentina.
2. The Latin name for the blue crab is "Callinectes sapidus", which means what?

Answer: "Beautiful swimmer that is savory"

Savory, absolutely. But beautiful is a stretch.
3. Which is not a term for an edible crab?

Answer: Buckshells

Peelers are just about to lose their hard shells, making picking very easy. Softshells have just lost their hard shells, and a thin, pliable shell has replaced it. These are a delicacy and can be eaten whole, usually fried. Papershells are the same, only the shell is slightly older and therefore thicker.
4. How big was the largest recorded blue crab from Maryland from tip to tip of its shell?

Answer: Nine inches

Larger crabs, measuring ten to eleven inches, have been seen by survey performers.
5. What does it mean if there is a pink dot on the back fin of a crab?

Answer: The crab will molt in about a week.

The pink dot is actually the new shell appearing under the old. Within a week the crab will molt and shed its shell. The crab does this several times in its lifespan as it grows.
6. Female crabs cannot mate with their shells on; they must wait until just after molting.

Answer: True

The male crab will cradle a female crab who is just about to molt. These pairs are called "doublers". During molting, the male dismounts but remains nearby until the female has successfully shed her old shell. Only then can they mate.
7. Old Bay has been a Maryland staple for almost as long as crabs have been. The unique blend of spices is added to steamed crabs during and after cooking. Which spice is NOT found in Old Bay?

Answer: Garlic

Old Bay is made by McCormick & Co. in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Try Old Bay on pizza, chicken, and shrimp!
8. How many appendages does a normal blue crab have, including claws and backfins?

Answer: Ten

Two claws, two backfins, and six feelers.
9. How are male blue crabs (jimmies) and female blue crabs (sooks) identified?

Answer: The "aprons" on the underside of the crab are different shapes

Flip the crab over to the white underside. With the crab facing your feet, the male apron looks like a T while the female's looks like a V. A mature female's apron is a wider, more rounded V shape. This is where the female's eggs are stored before and after mating.

Another way of differentiating male from female is that the females have red tips on their front claws. Think of it as the female having painted her nails!
10. How do blue crabs spend their winter?

Answer: They bury themselves in mud and wait for warmer temperatures.

Females bury themselves in deeper waters while the males and juveniles bury themselves in shallower waters. Neither sex eats or does much of anything during this period and it is illegal to catch them between December 1st and March 31st.
Source: Author Scoob44

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. The Selfish Shellfish Average
2. All About Crabs! Tough
3. Daphnia Details Difficult
4. The Decorator Crab Tough
5. Hermit Crabs for Pets Average
6. The Hermit Crab Tough
7. Friendly Crustaceans Under the Sea Average
8. All About Crabs! Tough
9. Our Small Neighbours Average
10. I'm Not a Myth Average
11. When the Bee Stings Average
12. Fearsome Arthropods Tough

3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us