Crab, popular term applied to numerous species of decapod crustaceans, properly only to those in the div. Brachyura, but also commonly to others included in the Anomura. The true crab have short antennae, eyes which can be retracted into sockets, a short tail which is tucked up under the cephalothorax, a compressed body covered by a hard carapace, and two large anterior claws curved closely round the carapace, these being usually larger in the male than in the female. In diet crabs are carnivorous, and will feed on carrion or on living matter; a few species sometimes vary their food with vegetables.
Nearly all of the crabs are marine, but there exist also land which would drown if kept in water; some are so tiny that they will hide in disused shells, and others have a fondness for burrowing in sand and mud. Many of the males are pugnacious, and will fight bitterly with an opponent; some are capable of casting a claw in self-preservation, and all are able to regenerate a missing limb. In intelligence they rank probably .
In intelligence they rank probably highest of the crustaceans. The hermit or soldier crabs are anomurous, and are characterised by having a fleshy, spirally twisted abdomen, usually covered over by an empty gastropod shell; they are united in the tribe Paguridea, of which the genus Pagurus is typical. The species in the tribe Galathcidca are symmetrical in shape, and the young are noted for the length of the spines on the carapace.
10 Physical Characteristics of Sea Crab.
- The crab is scientifically known as Brachyura and is an integral part of the group of crustaceans, aquatic decapods, ie with ten legs.
- Crabs can have spikes and hard hair, but also two front claws that is for to feed. The rest of the legs is used for swimming and movement.
- The part of the belly is hidden and, therefore, useful to protect the eggs, but the whole body is flat for the purpose of containing the organs; eyes, mouth.
- It can live in both salt and sweet water and its is a massive spread.
- The crabs are amphibian animals, because they can live both in the open air and in the water managing to seal the gills when necessary.
- Their diet includes fresh algae, small echinoderms, actiniae, organic debris, insect larvae, worms, and small fish.
- They are very intelligent and attentive animals that are difficult to detect and identify, because they like to camouflage themselves in groups or hide.
- Sometimes they cover the carapace with other organisms such as sponges, marine plants, small crustaceans, to camouflage and conform to the environment and the seabed.
- They are excellent walkers and can travel twelve kilometers in a day.
- As well as in astrology, it is used as a symbol of the gravity of thought in heraldry , while in Spanish, “thinking about the immortality of the crab” means “daydreaming”.
- Generally, crabs reproduce sexually. Some females of this group release chemical signals in the water to attract males.Females easily produce between 300,000 and 700,000 eggs. After incubation, the eggs hatch and begin the process of “walking”, when the newborns go to the water.
The King Crab has a very white and tender meat, which lends itself to being served naturally, perfect when served with melted butter.
