Shore crab
size:
carapace up to 9 centimeters wide
color:
green to dark grey; legs green or red
age:
3 to 5 years
food:
omnivore: plants, worms, fish, carrion, other crustaceans, shellfish (particularly mussels)
enemies:
gulls, other bird species, some fish
reproduction:
sexual
- Dut: Strandkrab
- Lat: Carcinus maenas
- Eng: Shore crab, European green crab
- Ger: Strandkrabbe (Gemeine Strandkrabbe)
- Dan: Almindelig strandkrabbe
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- Shore crab, foto fitis, sytske dijksen
Shore Crab
Shore crabs, also known as green crabs, are very common along the Dutch coast. They are native to the North Sea, but have managed to spread throughout the world. Due to the invasion of European shore crabs in American waters, this species is listed as the 18th of the 100 most damaging intruders in the world. You don't have to search for long to find one if you're by the sea. Birds don't have to wait long either; during low tide, lots of crabs are eaten. The crab itself thinks it can handle its enemies and will courageously try to pinch your fingers or toes should you encounter one. Shore crabs are the 'garbage collectors of the sea'; they eat whatever is dead or sick. On the tidal flats, they eat all sorts of benthic animals, although their favorite food are mussels.
- Distribution and habitat
- mating shore crabs, foto fitis, sytske dijksen
Shore crabs are very common in the North Sea, Wadden Sea and delta regions. In the summer, they hunt on the tidal flats and migrate to warmer deeper waters in the winter. During low tide, you can see them walking over the sea floor, sideways of course. You also have a good chance of finding them by tilting up a large stone, where they hide during low tide.
- Hitchhikers
- Shore crab with barnacles, foto fitis, sytske dijksen
Should you find a crab on the beach and look very closely, then there is a good chance you will see more than just a crab. Other animals often use the crab to get around, such as mussels, barnacles, bryozoans or the parasite, Sacculina carcini. Usually, the crab is not affected by these hitchhikers, however Sacculina is problem. This parasite uses the crab not only to live in, but eats its food and makes it impossible for the crab to reproduce.
Mussels, bryozoans and barnacles often live on the crab shell, and as soon as it sheds, it also gets rid of its lifters. Older crabs do not shed as often, so that the lifters have the opportunity to grow quite large. They can then get in the way when moving around. There are even incidents known where barnacles grow in the eyehole of the crab. Barnacles grow fast and can push away the crab's eye, blinding it. Slow and blind crabs make easy prey for birds and fish. So when hitchhikers grow large, it often means the end is near for the crab. - Softshells
When a crab first gets a new carapace, it is very weak and easily damaged. These crabs are referred to as softshells. The animal must find shelter to avoid being caught by predators. During this stage, crabs are able to regenerate missing legs and claws. You can always see if a crab has new appendages: they are never as long as the original ones.
Crabs whose shells start to stiffen are called papershells. When the carapace has stiffened even more, but is still pliable, the crab is called a buckram.
Around the time when the female molts, the male will mate with her and then carry her under his body for a couple of days until her carapace has hardened up to a buckram stage. He doesn't want her caught by a predator and see his efforts go to waste!
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