Five Amazing Crab Species

Most live at the bottom of the sea and come in very different sizes, colors and shapes. In fact, there is a species that can literally be mistaken for a spider.

A family of over four thousand species can’t be less than surprising. These crustaceans known for their claws and their shells, as well as for walking “sideways”, inhabit the bottoms of almost all seas. Would you like to know what are the most amazing crab species? So keep reading this article.

Which crab species are the most fabulous?

Most crab species roam the  seabed  (only a few swim),  have four legs on each side and two claws that serve to capture and manipulate food, compete for territory or attract the female  during the breeding season.

Like other  arthropods, they are also  endowed with an exoskeleton, which they exchange several times during their lifetime.

There are several suborders and species of crabs around the world, and the best known are:

1. Japan giant crab

It belongs to the group of ‘spider crabs’ with a triangular carapace and long legs, which can exceed three meters in length. 

It lives in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, especially on the Japanese coasts, and although it is blind, it has fur that is sensitive to the waves of the sea and has very developed ears.

It is believed that the giant crab from Japan – the photo that opens this article –  can live for about 100 years (70 in captivity).

Its claws have the ability to  inject a special liquid to defend against predators.

1. hermit crab

Not just one, but  several species of crabs share the characteristic of using snail shells to cover their abdomen, the softest and weakest area of ​​their body. 

There are about 500 types of hermit crabs, and although most are aquatic, some of them are terrestrial.

Why do they use the shells for refuge? Because their exoskeleton only covers the front.

The most curious of all is that, as  in that  the crab grows, it must “move” to a bigger house.

It feeds on carrion,  although it can also include in its diet some  snails, worms, mussels, larvae and plants mixed with sand. 

As for reproduction, the female carries the eggs under her abdomen and, when fertilized, releases them into the sea.

1. blue crab

Also known as  crab, this crustacean has five pairs of legs.

Despite being called “blue”,  the exoskeleton that covers it is dark green, although some males have bluish-gray bodies.

This crab is very voracious and active. Its food is based on fish, algae, molluscs and crustaceans.

He can live up to eight years and, like the rest of his family, is an oviparous:  every spring and summer the female lays between 700,000 and two million eggs.

It lives in the Atlantic Ocean, from Scotland to Argentina, but especially in the Gulf of Mexico.

It prefers tropical coasts, bays, estuaries, river mouths and coastal lagoons no more than two meters deep.

1. American red crab

This crab lives in the slow, cold water rivers of the Southeastern United States and  is considered an invasive species due to its great ability to grow quickly and resist drought.

In addition, it has a life of about five years and feeds on almost everything: carrion, animals or vegetables.

1. spider crab

It is difficult to identify that it is a crab and not a spider with swimming skills. 

This crustacean is a close relative of the Japanese giant, but only because of its triangular shape and long, slender legs.

In terms of size, this species reaches only 10 centimeters, and its body is brown with gray pincers.

It feeds on worms and crustaceans and  lives on reefs and rocks in the Atlantic Ocean – from the United States to Argentina – to camouflage itself without problems.