European Green Crab
ExploreInvertebrate
European Green Crab
carcinus maenas
The European Green Crab is a small, colorful crab found in coastal waters. It has a lively personality and loves to scuttle around the rocks and sand!
Habitat: Coastal waters, rocky shores, and sandy beaches.
Appearance
The European Green Crab has a mottled green to dark brown carapace, often with orange or yellow on its underside. It is distinctly identified by five sharp spines on each side of its shell behind its eyes, making it look rugged.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderDecapodaFamilyCarcinidaeGenusCarcinus
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A female European Green Crab can lay up to 200,000 eggs at once!
Believe it or not, these crabs can hold their breath for hours out of water!
Their stalked eyes can see almost all around them, even behind them! Wow!
They can walk in all directions, but mostly scuttle sideways really fast!
Special abilities
Ability
Salty Survivor
European Green Crab can live in fresh, brackish, and salty waters that helps them thrive in diverse coastal habitats.
Ability
Temperature Resistor
European Green Crab can survive in icy cold or warm waters because of its adaptable physiology, helping them colonize new areas.
Ability
Crushing Claws
European Green Crab has powerful claws that helps them open tough shells of prey and defend against predators.
Ability
Rapid Regrowth
European Green Crab can regrow lost limbs, like claws or legs, because of their amazing regenerative abilities.
Measurements & details
- Carapace Width
- 10 cm
- Weight
- 70 g
- Lifespan
- 5 years
Diet & Feeding
These omnivorous crabs eat almost anything smaller than themselves, from shellfish to algae.
Primary Foods
- clams
- mussels
- worms
- small crustaceans
- algae
- fish larvae
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
blue mussel
Mytilus edulis
A primary food source, often outcompeting native predators.
eats
Eastern oyster
Crassostrea virginica
Preys on juvenile oysters, impacting shellfish aquaculture.
eats
sandworm
Nereis virens
Consumes various marine worms found in soft sediments.
eaten by
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
Large seabirds often prey on smaller crabs in intertidal zones.
eaten by
Atlantic cod
Gadus morhua
Cod will consume smaller or juvenile green crabs if available.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Common Green CrabGreen CrabRock Crab
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is European Green Crab?
10 cm
How much does European Green Crab weigh?
70 g
How long does European Green Crab live?
5 years
What does European Green Crab eat?
These omnivorous crabs eat almost anything smaller than themselves, from shellfish to algae.
Where is European Green Crab usually found?
Coastal waters, rocky shores, and sandy beaches.
How does European Green Crab hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
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