Safekipedia

Crab

Adapted from Wikipedia Β· Explorer experience

A close-up photo of a brown edible crab from the North Sea, showing its shell and claws against a black background.

Meet the Crabs

Crabs are fun and interesting sea animals. They have a hard shell to keep them safe, and their tails are hidden under their bodies. One cool thing about crabs is that they can run sideways very fast! They often like to hide in rocky places in the ocean.

There are many different kinds of crabs. Some are very tiny, like the pea crab, which is just a few millimeters wide. Others are very big, like the Japanese spider crab, whose legs can stretch up to 4 meters (13 feet) apart! Crabs eat different foods β€” some eat plants, some eat animals, and some eat a mix of both.

People all over the world love to eat crabs. In Britain, a dish called dressed crab is very popular. In places like Goa and Mozambique, people enjoy eating crab curry. Crabs have also been part of stories and art for many years. Some people even keep hermit crabs as pets.

Crabs come in many shapes and sizes. The smallest crabs are just a few millimeters wide, while the largest, like the Japanese spider crab, can have legs stretching over 4 meters. Some crabs live in water, while others live on land or in freshwater. They have many different ways of eating, too.

Cancer pagurus, the edible or brown crab (Brachyura)

Images

A horseshoe crab, an interesting creature related to spiders and scorpions, shown on a white background.
A close-up photo of an Atlantic vernal crab, a small crustacean found in Belgian coastal waters.
A Pacific Sand Crab on a sandy beach, using its antennae to collect food before burying itself in the sand.
A scientific photo of a male Lithodes confundens crab from the waters off Patagonia, Argentina.
A Birgus latro, also known as a robber crab, is a large, unique crustacean found in the Pacific islands.
A curious Black Eyed Hermit crab exploring a lab countertop at the Kodiak Lab Aquarium.
A tiny pea crab living in an aquarium, showing marine life up close.
A large coconut crab, known for its strong claws and hard shell, is shown in this photo.
A preserved Japanese Spider Crab, one of the largest crab species in the world, showcasing its unique long legs and shell.
A Swift-Footed Rock Crab in its natural habitat in the Maldives.
A close-up image of Allopetrolisthes punctatus, a small porcelain crab species found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
A beautiful Ashtoret lunaris crab from Karwar, India.

Related articles

Japanese spider crab

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Crab, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.