5 Fun Facts About Crabs
Image courtesy of Felipe Portella
Check Out These Crustacean Trivia Tidbits
When you go to a seafood restaurant, do you walk in hoping they offer crab legs, crab cakes, or maybe both? You aren't alone; crab meat makes the world go round. Here are five fun facts about crabs to share to share with your family and friends at your next seafood feast!
Too Many Species to Count
You may have heard about a King Crab, Snow Crab, Stone Crab, or maybe even Mr. Krab, but the list continues. There are over 4,500 crab species, some of which live in freshwater or on land. Crabs in water can be found along the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the North Pacific Coast. Surprisingly, all crabs have similar diets of animal and plant tissue, regardless of where they live.
Image courtesy of Rod Long
Fan Favorite?
Callinectes Spaidus, more commonly known as blue crab is the most consumed species worldwide, especially in Florida, because they prefer saltier habitats. Blue Crabs can live for approximately three to four years and grow faster in warmer water. They eat clams, mussels, plants, oysters, and sometimes small soft-shelled blue crabs. Blue Crabs are also known for their appearance as their shells are blue or olive green and have bright blue claws. Females can have red tips on their claws.
You might be wondering what Callinectes Sapidus means; in Latin, it means "beautiful savory swimmer."
Full of Vitamins
Although you might soak your crab meat in butter or eat it fried, crab contains a multitude of healthy vitamins. Crab meat has a high amount of B12; if you eat between 3-4 ounces, you can meet your daily supplement of B12. The benefits of crab don't stop there; the meat also contains omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc. Next time you feel bad about eating a lot of crab meat, remember it can help maintain muscle, prevent anemia, and improve your heart health.
Image courtesy of Chandler Cruttenden
The Largest Crab Goes to…
The Japanese Spider Crab is the largest living crab because its body is 12 inches across, and its legs can grow up to 12 feet. Just picture two Steph Curry's stacked on top of each other! Unlike other crabs, the Japanese Spider Crab can not swim, so they prefer to live deep in the ocean where they want to walk along the ocean floor. They can be found along Japan's Pacific coast. Since the Japanese Spider Crabs don't swim, they do not hunt for food; instead, they look for dead and decaying matter along the seafloor. Not only is the Japanese Spider Crab the biggest, but they also have the longest life span and can live for up to 100 years.
True Crab or False Crab?
Just because the word crab is in the title doesn't mean the creature is an actual crab. There is such a thing as a true crab and a false crab; you may have heard of both but didn't know the difference. Blue crab, Dungeness crab, Pea crab, or Japanese Spider crab are true crabs because their abdomens are entirely hidden, have a short projecting "tail," and belong to the Brachyura group. A Hermit crab, Horseshoe crab, and King crab are false crabs because they have smaller legs and belong to the Anomura group.
Timoti’s Crab Burger
Seek and You Shell Find
Don't worry; we understand wild-caught crab isn't for everyone, and sometimes you might prefer shrimp or Mahi. That’s totally cool, too! Our menu offers a wide variety of options for everyone to enjoy, so we've got you covered. Swing by one of our two Timoti locations, or order online today.