Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Crab
Let us understand the life cycle of the marine animal with Pincers.
Name- Crab
Scientific name- Brachyura.
Size- 1mm-4m
Habitat, Distribution & Appearance.
These oval-shaped creatures are found in the coastal and freshwater regions of Africa, Asia, America, Eurasia, Europe, etc.
Crabs are social creatures that live in Brackish waters, saltwater and freshwater. Land crabs in the soil.
Their body is made up of a hard covering called an ‘Exoskeleton’, which can be made up of a plain surface or some species consists of ‘Protrusions’ (a bumpy surface) upon them.
Crabs shed their exoskeleton once a year. They have ten legs, five on each side.
Front most legs are known as ‘Pincers’. Pincers are very functional legs of Crabs which can be used to defend themselves from predators. Pincers can grasp and hurt the toes of Cats and Dogs, or any defendable predator.
The colours of crabs can be a warning signal that denotes their presence to each other or to lure away the predators.
Pincers are also the ‘display’ in courtship, and also male crabs use their pincers to fight with another rival male during mating season.
Pincers are also a part of sexual dimorphism along with the abdomen, Female crabs have round abdomen.
A group of 10-1000 crabs is known as ‘Casts’
Diet-
Crabs are Omnivores. They feed upon plant material like Algae, phytoplankton and some sea animals like Barnacles, Shrimps, mussels, etc.
Reproduction
The moulting and mating seasons of crabs are at the same time.
Crabs are solitary except during the mating season. Male Crabs attract Female crabs with Pincers.
After mating, the female stores’ sperms and fertilize the eggs. She lays the eggs and carries them near her tail.
Baby crabs live in water, and later live on land or beach when they turn juvenile. Land crabs lay eggs in the waterbody.
Lifespan and Threats-
Some species of Crabs are ‘Near threatened’ according to their population status. It means their population is declining.
The lifespan of Crabs is 3 years. They can be consumed by Fishes, Otters, octopuses and Humans.
Also See ⇒ Catfish Facts