Shore crabs facts for kids
Shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) are a very common type of crustacean. Crustaceans are a group of animals that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. You can often find shore crabs living along the seashore. They are well-known for their tough shells and interesting habits.
Contents
About Shore Crabs
Shore crabs come in many different colors, but they are usually green or brown. They have eight legs that help them move around quickly. They also have two big pincers, which they use to grab food and defend themselves. The shell of a shore crab can grow up to about 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide. Most shore crabs are usually between 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) wide.
Where Shore Crabs Live
Shore crabs are naturally found in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. However, they are now starting to live in many other parts of the world. These crabs love to live on beaches and rocky shores. They can hide under rocks or bury themselves in the sand to stay safe.
What Shore Crabs Eat
Shore crabs are known as nocturnal predators. This means they hunt for their food mainly at night. They have a varied diet and will eat many different things. Their favorite foods include small crustaceans, molluscs (like snails and clams), worms, and even some small fish. They use their strong pincers to catch and break open their food.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Female shore crabs can lay a huge number of eggs at one time, sometimes nearly 200,000! They carry these tiny eggs with them under their bodies until they are ready to hatch.
Molting: Growing a New Shell
Like most crabs, shore crabs have a hard outer shell. This shell does not grow with them. When a shore crab gets too big for its shell, it has to shed its old shell. This process is called molting. After molting, the crab has a new, soft shell underneath. This new shell quickly hardens, allowing the crab to grow bigger. During the time their new shell is soft, they are very vulnerable to predators.
