The ocean is full of wonders, and among its most captivating inhabitants are crabs. These creatures come in a staggering variety of shapes, sizes, and behaviours. From the strange to the stunning, crabs have adapted in the most incredible ways to survive in their unique underwater worlds. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to discover 10 of the most unusual crabs that dwell beneath the waves. Whether you’re fascinated by the bizarre or intrigued by the beautiful, these crabs are sure to amaze you with their extraordinary appearances and fascinating survival tactics. Let’s dive into the deep to explore these incredible crustaceans!
The Coconut Crab (Birgus latro)
These amazing crabs (That are not proper crabs at all, but hermit crabs) are standard bright blue although they can also be orange or red, and the biggest ever recorded measured 18 inches across!!! That is one big crab indeed.
The Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta)
This crab is in fact often called a “Hoff Crab” due to this super strong crustacean’s hairy chest that they comb every day. But these crabs don’t comb their hair to look good, they do it because they’re hungry! Because here is the weird bit, they do in fact grow their food in their hair, trapping bacteria and letting it flourish before picking it out and eating it!
Tasmanian Giant Crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas)
Say hello to Claude because he is officially the Worlds heaviest crab. Weighing in at 15lbs and 15 inches across he is one big crab. But here is the best part: Claude is just a teenager in the World of crabs and is still growing both in size and weight!!!
The Japanese Spider Crab (Macrocheira kaempferi)
From the Worlds heaviest crab to the biggest! This is Big-Daddy house in Blackpool Sea-Life centre. Now for the scary stats: This amazing crab is a mega-sized 2.7 meters across, that’s 9ft!!!
The Hairy Bear Crab (Pilumnus vespertilio)
If there were an award for the cutest crab in the World, this one would win it. Widely accepted to be the hairiest crab in the world, its covered in long, soft, hair that is catches floating food in, although at only 3-5cm in length it doesn’t need much.
The Vampire Crab (Geosesarma Sp)
So why are they called Vampire crabs? When they are born, they are born with gray eyes, but it is not until adulthood that their eyes become bright red! But at just over 6-10cm wide they are not going to be biting any necks soon.
The Guard Grab (Trapezia rufopunctata)
It might be on 5 cm in size, but this crabs entire life is spent defending coral branches from fish, and it does this all day and all night. A true coral guard if ever I saw one.
The Rainbow Swimming Crab (Charybdis erythrodactyla)
Regardless of its name, this crab is not all sweetness and lovely coloured shell. With six front triangular teeth and seven acute teeth, four spines on the upper border and super sharp subdial posterior spines it might look lovely but is a walking sea-based tank.
The Candy Crab (Hoplophrys oatesii)
This incredibly beautiful crab is very tiny indeed. Measuring just 2cm across in most cases it is very hard to find. They make it even harder to be spotted by pinching off bits of the soft coral it lives in and sticking them onto it’s back!
The Palawan Purple Crab (Insulamon magnum)
What is so amazing about this crab is not just its colour, but the fact that it was only discovered last year! This is one of the four new species to be found on its home Island of Palawan in the Philippines.
Crabs are more than just the creatures we see scuttling along the beach – they’re a testament to the amazing diversity and creativity of nature. From their strange shells to their colourful patterns, each crab on this list shows just how adaptable and incredible life can be, even in the most challenging environments. We hope this list has given you a new appreciation for these remarkable creatures and a glimpse into the wonders of the ocean.
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