Pie crust crab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pie crust crab |
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| Dorsal view | |
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Cancridae
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| Genus: |
Metacarcinus
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| Species: |
M. novaezelandiae
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| Metacarcinus novaezelandiae (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846)
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The pie crust crab (Metacarcinus novaezelandiae) is a type of crab found in the waters around New Zealand and south-eastern Australia. It used to be called Cancer novaezelandiae. This crab gets its name because its shell can look a bit like a pie crust.
What Do Pie Crust Crabs Eat?
When they are young, pie crust crabs eat tiny floating creatures called plankton. As they grow up, they become hunters. They mostly eat meat and hunt at night.
Their favorite foods are molluscs, like clams, snails, and squid. These make up about one-third of their diet. They also eat other crustaceans, such as small crabs and shrimp.
Sometimes, they will also eat small fish, sea anemones, sea sponges, and even some algae. The pie crust crab uses its strong claws to catch, kill, and crush its food. Its powerful claws can even break open tough shells to get to the soft meat inside.
Who Eats Pie Crust Crabs?
Young pie crust crabs are eaten by many different kinds of fish. Adult crabs have several animals that hunt them.
Sea and shore birds, like gulls, will catch crabs that are out in the open. They sometimes fly the crabs high up and drop them. This helps to crack open the crab's hard shell. Larger fish with strong teeth also hunt these crabs underwater.
People also gather and eat these crabs from coastal areas. They are a source of food for many communities.
Crabs as a Cultural Food
The Māori people of New Zealand have always eaten crabs. Crabs were part of their traditional diet called kai moana, which means "food from the ocean."
Crabs were easy to find because they live in shallow coastal waters. The pie crust crab was likely one of the many types of crabs the Māori ate. It grows big enough to be a good meal and is found all over New Zealand.
Today, seafood, including crabs like the pie crust crab, is still an important cultural food for Māori.
