Blue crab discovered in Italy's Po River near Casalmaggiore

Researchers have confirmed the presence of the invasive blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Po River at Casalmaggiore, in the province of Mantua, Italy. The species, native to the Atlantic coasts of the Americas, is known for tolerating a wide range of salinity and temperature, allowing it to colonise estuaries, lagoons and even fresh‑water sections of rivers.

Professor Davide Persico of the University of Parma announced the finding after receiving recent reports, photographs and captured specimens from colleagues Davide Azzolini and Alessandro Pavesi. The new observations extend the documented spread of the crab along the Mantovano stretch of the Po, confirming earlier reports of its advance from the Adriatic and Mediterranean coasts into inland waterways.