Recent expansion of the alien invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) (Decapoda, Crustacea) along the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea

Abstract

Thirteen new records of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) have been documented near the Bulgarian Black Sea coast since 2006. This is an evidence for a recent expansion of the species in this part of the Black Sea. This expansion could be explained by the existing of established population in the area and is confirmed by the capturing of an egg-bearing female in the Varna Bay in 2005.