Crabs are Arthropods and account for over 6000 species of crustaceans!Found on land to the depths of the sea, crabs come in all shapes and sizes. The largest species of crab found on Earth are Japanese spider crabs, followed by Tasmanian giant crabs, Alaskan king crabs, and coconut crabs.Larger crabs are caught and consumed for the flesh in their hard bodies, as well as for their tasty leg meat. Crab leg meat is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, and when in season is in high demand. Japanese spider crabs, found in the ocean surrounding Japan, are especially popular as they have the largest leg span of all. These spider crabs do not kill or eat humans but will surely cause injury if you provoke them. To learn more about amazing crab species, read on!You can also find more interesting facts on our pages about coral reefs and pond animals.Do crabs break their own claws?Though rare, crabs can actually break off their own claws as a tactic of self-defense. If caught by a predator, crabs may rip their own claws off at a weak point if caught or shed them in order to distract the predator and then flee.Crabs may also shed their claws while molting, which is when they shed their existing exoskeletons in order to grow larger, harder ones. This is more common when crabs are growing, with smaller crabs molting around four to five times a month! The regeneration of a lost claw may take around a year for adult claws, with the lost limb growing a bit more with each subsequent molt.Crabs may not be able to survive without both claws as they are essential in order to procure food sources and fight off predators. However, they do quite well with a single claw until the other grows back. Many fishermen employ the tactic of ripping off a single claw and throwing the crab back into the ocean with the other intact, so that it may regrow its claw and provide more meat in the future. This is a way of dealing with the overharvesting of crabs as well as ensuring more return in the future.What do crabs eat?Crabs are omnivores and feed mostly underwater. They consume algae, seaweeds, small fish, shrimps, worms, and snails.Larger crabs can also use their claws to break open mussels and clams and eat the fleshy part inside, as well as eat bigger and harder foods like squids, starfish, sand dollars, and barnacles. They may even eat other crabs! Crab mothers may end up eating their babies in a state of hunger, which is why many young crabs do not survive past being born.Are crabs amphibious?Though crabs can spend time both underwater and on land, they do not possess certain characteristics which amphibians have. Amphibians possess vertebral columns as well as nervous systems, which crabs do not possess. They belong to the family of Arthropods rather than amphibians.Amphibians like frogs and salamanders breathe through their skin underwater, which absorbs the oxygen from their surroundings. While on land, they breathe through lungs like other terrestrial creatures.On the other hand, crabs use gills to breathe underwater. They do not have lungs that help them to breathe while on land, rather they use their gills which can still absorb oxygen from the air in a moist state. Crabs can only spend limited time outside of the water because if their gills dry up they would be unable to breathe.However, like amphibians, crab species can survive both on land and in water, can lay eggs, and are omnivorous in nature. Most amphibians are not found in the ocean, as their eggs cannot survive in saltwater.They are usually found in the depths of the ocean, but can be found in shallower waters during the mating season.)What is the biggest crab you can eat?There are many different species of crabs in the world, varying in size and weight.The biggest species of crab known to us is the giant Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) which can be found off the coast of Japan. These marine crabs have the largest leg span out of all arthropods, and are considered a delicacy from the sea! These spider crabs giant legs can grow up to 13 ft (4 m) across, with their bodies being no less impressive at 16 in (40.6 cm). Males are normally larger than females and can grow up to 3.2 ft (1 m). Their total weight ranges around 40 lb (18-20 kg), which makes for a lot of meat! The most sought-after part of this crab is the legs, which are popularly consumed in Japan. Large fisheries for Japanese spider crabs are also present near the Pacific Ocean, as these crabs are very commonly consumed.Giant Japanese spider crabs are found in the deeper waters of the Pacific in colder regions around Japan, with adults being found between 160-1,970 ft (49-600 m). This species can be found in shallower depths during the mating season, which lasts between January to April. After mating in the sea, the female can lay between 1-1.5 million eggs, which she carries attached to her body until they hatch!Japanese spider crabs (Macrocheira kaempferi) are named after their defining features. They have long, spindly legs, which resemble those of a spider. Their giant orange shells are round and sport white spots, further contributing to their arachnid-like appearance. These crustaceans are also thought to be the longest living crabs, with many individuals in history crossing 100 years of age!Other crab species, though not as large as Japanese spider crabs, are the Alaskan king crab and the coconut crab, which are quite large in their own right. The coconut crab is the largest terrestrial crab on Earth and its claws have a fierce reputation. Though they will not attack unprovoked, mess with these crustaceans and you may be on the receiving end of a rather nasty pinch, which is enough to send you to the hospital!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked finding out about the largest crab in the world then why not take a look at scavenger animals or how long do crabs live.
Crabs are Arthropods and account for over 6000 species of crustaceans!
