Sea Crabs: Here Are 4 Curious Species
The crabs are crustaceans characterized by five pairs of legs, two of which, the claws, are like ‘grippers’, with which capture the food.
In this article, we will talk about some of the marine crab species that can be found in different parts of the world.
Sea crab species
1. The ghost crab
Ghost crab, also known as sand crab, belongs to the decapod family. Due to its nocturnal behavior and pale yellow color it is called ‘ghost’.
Another of its most important characteristics is that it has a larger claw than the others. Its eyes are black and stand out against the light color of the shell. In addition, they provide him with a kind of 360 ° visibility.
The ghost crab – see opening photo for the article – can run up to 20 kilometers per hour to escape predators.
Another defense technique is to hide in the sand or dig burrows on the shores of the beaches. It feeds on mollusks, crabs and eggs or larvae.
2. The Japanese giant crab
The Japanese crab is one of the largest extant marine crab species. This species belongs to the ‘spider’ group.
Spider crabs differ from others in their long triangular carapace and long legs, which can measure up to two meters. In addition, it weighs around 20 kg.
The giant crab inhabits the waters of the Pacific Ocean, more precisely around the coasts of Japan.
Its body is orange with white markings and it can blend in with anything you find in the water.
An interesting feature is the fact that he is blind, even though his hearing is highly developed and he also has special hairs that can detect waves underwater.
3. The Hermit Crab
It is certainly a very curious species because it “chooses” abandoned snail shells or any other object to protect its abdomen, which is very soft.
There are many hermit crabs around the world and they behave like hermit crabs: as they grow in size they have to move houses.
The hermit crab feeds on carrion, but supplements its diet with snails, worms, mussels, larvae, crustaceans and plants.
It mates twice a year and the female carries the fertilized eggs under her abdomen until she finds a suitable place to let them go.
4. The blue crab
The last marine crab species on this list is the blue crab. Its body is covered with a dark green exoskeleton and, therefore, is called “blue”. Females have reddish or orange spots on the ends of their legs.
The blue crab lives in the Atlantic Ocean, from Argentina to Nova Scotia and in the Gulf of Mexico. It prefers tropical coasts, bays, river mouths and estuaries, as long as the water is temperate.
It is large (it can measure more than 20 centimeters), its shell is circular and it feeds on other crustaceans, fish, algae and molluscs.
It is a very active and voracious animal, whose reproduction is oviparous and very prolific: a female can lay up to two million eggs per year.
