#1
There are about 5,000 species of crabs. Only about 4,500 are true crabs. The other 500 types are false crabs and include hermit crabs, king crabs, porcelain crabs, horseshoe crabs, and crab lice.
#2
Both crabs and lobsters are decapods, or crustaceans with 10 limbs. Other decapods include crayfish, prawns, and shrimp.
#3
While lobsters have a long, segmented abdomen that sticks out at the back of their bodies, crabs have a similar but smaller abdomen that is curled up underneath the main shell.
#4
Most crabs have flat bodies that enable them to squeeze into very narrow crevices.
#5
A crab’s shell is really a skeleton on the outside of its body. Insects and spiders also have external skeletons.
#6
A strong waterspout may sweep up animals, such as crabs, that live near the water surface and then rain them down over land.
#7
The largest crab in the world is the giant Japanese Spider Crab, which can measure up to 13 feet across.
#8
Crabs are also known as “spiders of the sea” because, like crabs, spiders have legs that bend at joints.
#9
There are two kinds of crabs. First are true crabs, or brachyurans, which have a very short abdomen and use four pairs of long legs for walking. True crabs include blue crabs, spider crabs, and ghost crabs. Second are false crabs, or anomurans, which have a longer abdominal section and fewer walking legs. False crabs include hermit crabs, king crabs, and squat lobsters.
#10
Humans eat about 1.5 million tons of crab every year. Crabs make up 1/5 of all creatures that are caught from bodies of water around the world. Crab meat is very high in vitamin B12. Just 2–3 ounces of crab meat will supply an adult with the daily B12 requirement.
A shally lightfoot crab - Crab facts
#11
All crabs have claws on their two front legs.
#12
All crabs have one pair of pincers (chelipeds) and four pairs of walking legs.
#13
Crabs have large compound eyes made up of hundreds of tiny lenses.
#14
A crab can use its claws as a vice for crushing or like scissors for cutting. They can also be used like chopsticks to pick up food.
#15
A hard shell called a carapace covers a crab’s body.
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