16 Different Types of Crabs In The World

Hermit Crabs
Hermit Crabs

One of the best seafood options is crab and also listed as one of the animals that start with c. The flavor of different varieties of crabs depends on their size, form, species, and habitat. The enormous snow crabs or king crabs with long, sharp claws and legs, Dungeness crabs, and blue crabs are a few of these crabs. Numerous types of crabs can be found in warm seas, freshwater bodies, cold saltwater places, and on land. We will discuss the types of crabs that exist in the world.

For instance, snow crabs are found in the chilly waters of Japan, Siberia, Greenland, Alaska, and Greenland. On the other hand, the Florida stone crab can be found in various US states’ salt marshes and in the Gulf of Mexico’s warmer waters. Here goes a list of different types of crabs.

Types of Crabs

1. The King Crab

Due to their size and delicious flavor, king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus) are among the best and most popular edible crabs. These crabs are among the largest crab species ever reported. The Norton Sound and the Bering Sea are only a couple of the chilly, Alaska-area North Pacific areas where red king crabs can be found and collected.

The Red King crab may grow to a maximum size of 11″ (28 cm) wide and weighs around 13 kg. The Red King crab has large, delectable white meat-filled legs that can reach a height of 5 feet (1.8 meters). It is one of the popular animals that starts with K.

The King Crab
The King Crab

2. The Blue Crab

Giant crabs with blue-colored shells and legs are known as blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). They are primarily found in the waters off the East Coast of the United States, Europe, Japan, and the Gulf of Mexico. The two paddle-like feet on blue crabs’ feet help them to swim. Its Latin name means “beautiful swimmer” in English.

These swimming crabs can reach lengths of up to 5.5 inches, sometimes even beyond. The Blue crab’s meat can be described as salty-sweet, and after cooking, its shell takes on a distinctive deep red hue that is quite typical of most cooked crustaceans. It stores most of its meat in its body, legs, and claws.

snow crabs
snow crabs

Image Source: James St. John

3. Snow (Rock) Crab

Another long-legged Alaskan crab species are the snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio), which is also a rock crab. The chilly waters around Alaska and the North Atlantic Ocean are home to this kind of crab. The Snow crab may expand to a width of 7 inches and has a dark brown appearance. This crab is consumed for the delectable white meat that is contained within its legs and claws and which, unlike some others, can be cracked open to retrieve the heart.

snow crabs
snow crabs

Image Source: Wikimedia

4. Bairdi Crabs

Bairdi crabs have a small abdominal flap, a carapace-shaped body, five pairs of extremely specialized legs, a short tail, and these other features. Pincers are housed in the first pair of its legs. The Bairdi crab, commonly referred to as a “genuine” crab, has pincer claws in front of each of its legs.

Due to overfishing, the number of Bairdi crabs has recently decreased, and as a result, tight regulations have been imposed on fisheries that are specialized in their trade. The Bairdi kind of Snow crabs are by far the biggest and can be prepared in a variety of ways, including steamed, boiled, grilled, and even roasted.

Bairdi Crabs
Bairdi Crabs

Image Source: Wikimedia

5. Peekytoes Crabs

Peekytoe crabs (Cancer irroratus) are more closely related to brown rock crabs. They live in the chilly Atlantic Ocean waters. The brown tint of this crab’s hard shell and the purplish dots on it distinguish it from other species. In comparison to other crabs, the Peekytoe crab is a medium-sized crab. Its carapace-shaped shell has a maximum diameter of 5.25 inches (13 cm). The Florida Stone crab’s tiny chelae are also processed.

Also Read: 16 Coolest Animals In The World

Peekytoes Crabs
Peekytoes Crabs

Image Source: James St. John

6. Coconut Crabs

Robber crabs or palm thieves are other names for coconut crabs (Birgus latro). The coconut crab is the largest land-dwelling arthropod in the world, with a leg span of nearly 3 feet, a weight of up to 9 lbs, and a span of 16 inches. However, it takes them between 40 and 60 years to grow to their full size. The Coconut Crabs got their name because of their love of coconuts, and they will even scale trees to collect them. A coconut crab’s food consists of meat, fruits, nuts, and seeds, but they cannot remain submerged for lengthy periods of time without drowning.

Coconut Crabs
Coconut Crabs

Image Source: Wikipedia

7. Dungeness Crabs

Dungeness crabs are enormous crabs that range in size from 1.75 to 4 lbs and are colored purplish-brown. They can be observed in the waters between Alaska and the Baja region of Mexico. The Dungeness crabs were given that name in honor of a former Washington state town. The Dungeness crab harvest is governed by legislation; only the males may be taken, and they must have grown to a minimum length of 6.25 inches.

Dungeness Crabs
Dungeness Crabs

Image Soure: Wikimedia

8. Hermit Crabs

Brachyura infraorder, sometimes known as hermit crabs is one of the animals that crawl because of their small size and the fact that they are a lot of fun to play with, children keep them as pets most of the time. Hermit crabs are divided into seven crab families and have approximately 1,100 different species.

They frequently reside in snail shells to safeguard their tender abdomens as they develop. Additionally protecting them from predators, these shells. Hermit crabs are known to kill other hermit crabs to get their shells because they value their shells so highly. Hermit crabs can live anywhere from a few months to thirty years. Hermit crabs are gregarious in the wild and frequently reside in colonies.

Hermit Crabs
Hermit Crabs

Image Source: warrenski

9. Horseshoe Crabs

Horseshoe Crabs got their name because of the way they resemble a horseshoe. These crabs are among the most ancient, having been around for more than 500 million years. The Atlantic coast between Yucatan and Nova Scotia, the Asian shores, India, and the Philippines are all home to these crabs.

They don’t contain much flesh, but they are edible and extremely good. Along Florida’s sand beaches, horseshoe crabs are common. They have a spike-like tail that, while being harmless, many people mistake for being threatening. Horseshoe crabs should not, however, be picked up by the tail as you don’t want to hurt them. With ten eyes, these crabs are more closely related to spiders, ticks, and even scorpions.

Horseshoe Crabs
Horseshoe Crabs

Image Source: Wikimedia

10. Southern European Crabs

Potamon fluviatile, another edible freshwater crab, is the southern European crab. This particular species of green crab is primarily found in the rivers and streams of Greece, the Balkans, and Italy. The Southern European crab is fairly small compared to ocean crabs. It has been a well-liked food item for over a century and has an average span of roughly 2 inches (5 cm). In North America, the European green crab is now considered an invasive species. They are cooked by boiling, and their flavor is rich and sweet.

Southern European Crabs
Southern European Crabs

Image Source: Wikimedia

11. Jonah crab

Jonah crab is one of the types of crab that belongs to the family Cancridae. The crab species preys and feeds on mussels, arthropods, snails, and certain species of algae. The natural predators are seagulls, otters, alligators, sharks, rays, and bony fish, and humans. The average lifespan of Jonah crab is between 1 to 5 years. The most distinctive feature of crabs is light spots and black-tipped claws. The average weight of crab species is between 12 to 19 oz.

Jonah crab
Jonah crab

Image Source: Wikimedia

12. Florida stone crab

Florida stone crab’s scientific name is Menippe mercenaria and only wo species of stone crab exist in the Southeastern United States. The female stone crabs are very protective because of their incredible reproductive power where one female stone crab can produce millions upon millions of eggs throughout their lifetime. The primary diet consists of oysters or small mollusks, bristle worms, and other crustaceans, however, occasionally feeds on seagrass and carrion too. The avarage lifespan of Florida stone crab is between 7 to 8 years.

Florida stone crab
Florida stone crab

Image Source: Wikimedia

13. Giant mud crab

One of the different types of crabs, The Giant mud crab is one of the popular crabs in Australia that belongs to the family protonidae. The crabs of this family are usually referred to as swimmer or paddle crabs that can be identified by flattened back legs and paddle-like last segment. The body length is between 15 to 20 cm in width and the average weight is between 0.5 to 1.0 kilograms. They are mostly seen in the Indian Pacific region and also through the Indian Ocean to East Africa.

Giant mud crab
Giant mud crab

14. Japanese mitten crab

The Japanese mitten crab is native to estuaries, rivers, and lakes in the regions of southern Russia, Japan, southern China, Hong Kong, the west coast of Taiwan, and southeastern Korea. Both males and female species have unique hairy claws, however, setae cover more of the claws in the males. The dietary habits are omnivorous in nature and feed on plants and animals. The lifecycle of Japanese mitten crab goes through seven larval stages (a prezoea stage, five zoeal stages, and a megalopa stage), before developing into juvenile crabs.

Japanese mitten crab
Japanese mitten crab

Image Source: Patrick

15. European green crab

The European green crab is native to  Europe and North Africa.  They prefer to stay near shore and prefer shallow waters less than 6 meters. The primary diet consists of plants and animals and females can release up to 185,000 eggs once or twice per year. It is believed that the crap species arrives in North America in the year 1817 and carried in the holds of wooden ships. They move from one area to another by hitchhiking unseen on boats and gear or in packaged shellfish. The avarage lifespan of the European green crab is between 4 to 7 years. It is one of the different types of crabs in the world.

European green crab
European green crab

Image Source: Wikimedia

16. European spider crab

The European spider crab’s scientific name is Maja squinado mostly in the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. They are e known by different names such as spiny spider crab or spinous spider crab and their appearance is much more similar to the larger Japanese spider crab. The size can grow upto 20cm and is mostly seen in European waters, especially the Mediterranean and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The primary diet consists of plant matter, shellfish and will also eat animals such as starfish, brittle stars, and marine worms.

European spider crab
European spider crab

Image Source: Wikimedia

These are the types of crabs in the world. Kindly share and do post your comments.

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