Alaskan king crabs live high up on the ocean floors and can be found in cold water places like the northern Pacific. King crabs are crustaceans and belong to the invertebrates group, or those animals without backbones. They have a unique abdomen that looks like a fan and is located below the back part of their shell. They are thought to be direct ancestors of the hermit crab. They are also sometimes referred to as stone crabs, or groundfish due to their ocean floor habitat.
With their unique appearance and sideways scuttling, crabs captivate beachgoers and seafood lovers alike But have you ever stopped to count their legs? At first glance, crabs seem to sport far more than two or four legs like mammals and reptiles. So just how many legs does a crab have?
The number and structure of crab legs reveals key insights into their anatomy, evolution, and survival strategies. In this article, we’ll explore the intricacies of crab legs to uncover what makes these crustaceans such successful dwellers of aquatic realms.
An Overview of Crab Leg Anatomy
Crabs belong to a group of animals called decapod crustaceans. As the name suggests, decapods possess ten legs. These ten appendages are specialized into different structures
- 2 large front claws (chelipeds)
- 4 pairs of walking legs (pereopods)
The front claws also called pincers or chelae are thick, strong, and tipped with claws. They are used for defense, hunting, mating, and manipulating food.
The 4 remaining pairs located behind the claws are thinner, longer, segmented legs specialized for walking. These ambulatory legs enable the crab to move around and explore its environment.
Both the chelipeds and walking legs connect to the crab’s body via a segment called the coxa or basis. This forms the attachment point between the leg and the body wall.
Variations in Crab Leg Number
While 10 legs is the standard for most crabs, there are some exceptions:
- True crabs (infraorder Brachyura) always have 10 legs
- False crabs or anomurans may have fewer – 6 to 8 legs
- Hermit crabs have 6 legs plus another 4 on their abdomens
- Mole crabs are evolved for digging and have leg-like appendages forming a skirt around their bodies
So the number can vary a bit depending on the type of crab. But 10 legs is the classic number associated with these charismatic crustaceans.
Specialized Functions of Crab Legs
From hunting to mating and more, the diverse legs of the crab serve many critical functions:
Movement: The walking legs provide mobility for navigating the seabed and land. Their segmented structure gives flexibility.
Feeding: The front claws grasp, tear, and crush prey. Their strength and pincers are ideal for handling food.
Defense: Large, powerful claws can fend off predators and competitors by pinching, crushing, or flicking debris.
Sensory perception: Legs have touch and chemical receptors to explore surroundings.
Burrowing: Some crabs, like fiddlers, use claws to dig burrows in sand or mud.
Mating: Male crabs rely on their legs to grasp and hang onto females during reproduction.
Camouflage and mimicry: Legs are decorated with algae, sponges or other items as disguise.
Cleaning: Crabs meticulously clean their legs and claws to stay healthy.
Unique Adaptations
Beyond basic leg anatomy, some crabs have developed fascinating specialized adaptations:
- Paddle-shaped legs enable swimming in some crabs like blue crabs
- Dense hair-like structures on legs allow heavy crabs to distribute weight
- Long spidery legs on spider crabs enhance camouflage
- Asymmetric or unequal claws found in fiddler crabs
Regeneration After Loss
Crabs can regrow lost legs after molting. A fascinating feature that aids survival after injury or predation. Molting allows room for new growth as the crab expands its exoskeleton.
In Summary
Most crabs have 10 legs – 2 large claws for feeding and defense, plus 8 smaller walking legs. This arrangement suits their lifestyle and facilitates diverse functions. While leg count can vary, the classic 10-legged anatomy has served crabs well throughout evolution. So next time you enjoy steamed crabs or crab cakes, take a moment to appreciate the intricacies of their legs that make them such successful crustaceans.
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Color, Size, and Counts
There are three types of Alaskan king crab and each is defined by its exterior color. Red king crab (paralithodes camtschaticus), considered the most popular and prized king crab for consumption around the world, has a dark reddish brown shell. They are most abundant off the shores of Alaska.Blue king crab (paralithodes platypus), with a visibly blue toned shell, live for the most part in the North Pacific Ocean. Blue king crab legs are slender and more oval shaped compared to red king crab legs. Golden king crab (lithodes aequispinus), has a dark brown shell. The smallest of the three, they weigh an average 5-8 pounds from tip to tip. They’re found from British Columbia to the Aleutian Islands and Japan (http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/).
Most king crabs weigh between 6 and 10 pounds, but some can get as big as 20 pounds and have legs that are 6 feet across. Even though many of those king crabs that were over 20 pounds were caught in the early 1980s, before the Bristol Bay fishery crashed, In order to increase in size, king crabs must “molt” their shell. King crabs that are young molt a lot in their first few years, but they mold less when they are 4 to 5 years old. The weight of 10 pounds of king crab meat is equal to the number of king crab legs. A size of 6-9 would translate into “6-9 crab legs add up to 10 pounds. ” Only king crab legs make up the count as claws are excluded.
The King crab has a merus (shoulders), legs, claws, joints, tips, spines, and a carapace (or body). Unlike other crabs, king crabs have only six versus eight legs, and two claws. The king crab’s body, or carapace, is usually sent to be canned, while the legs are split up and served separately.
The most preferred meat from a king crab is in the legs. Most people who like king crab say that the merus section, which is the biggest part of the crab leg, is the best part. Compared to other crabs, the king crab claws are not as notorious as the legs. People think that red king crab is the best kind of king crab because its meat is the moistest and sweetest. If your crab meat is blue, it means that the crab wasn’t cooked all the way through or wasn’t cleaned properly. If it’s excessively salty, that’s a sign that the cooked crab wasn’t chilled properly prior to brine freezing.
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##CRAB || HOW MANY LEGS DOES A CRAB HAVE??
How many legs does a crab have?
Well, it depends on the species. Most commonly known crabs have ten legs – four pairs of walking legs and one pair of pincers or claws. However, some species of false crabs may have fewer than ten legs. For example, a porcelain grab has eight legs. The appearance of a crab’s legs varies depending on the type of crab in question.
What do crab legs look like?
The appearance of a crab’s legs varies depending on the type of crab in question. Generally speaking, crab limbs are segmented and jointed appendages that protrude from their bodies’ sides. The front pair – called chelipeds – are usually larger and stronger than the others as they serve to catch prey and defend themselves from predators.
Which crab has the largest legs?
King crabs have the largest legs in comparison to their bodies. These crabs are also called stone crabs or rock crabs. They are found in the warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The king crab’s two large claws can grow up to a foot long. The right claw of king crabs is usually much larger than the left claw.
Why do crabs have claws instead of regular legs?
Crabs have claws as their first pair of legs, which are modified for various purposes. They use these powerful claws, also known as chelipeds, to catch food, defend against predators, and fight between themselves. The claws can exert a lot of force, enabling the crab to crush hard-shelled prey or defend itself against predators.