Crabs are a group of decapod crustaceans, including the “true crabs” of Brachyura and several groups within the infraorder Anomura, such as hermit crabs, king crabs and porcelain crabs. They are typically armoured, flattened animals with their tails tucked beneath their bodies, and many species can move sideways and hide in crevices. Crabs are not a single natural clade; similar body forms have evolved repeatedly through carcinisation, making the group polyphyletic. Crabs range in size from the tiny pea crabs to the Japanese spider crab, with a leg span up to 4 metres (13 ft). They are found throughout the world’s oceans, on coasts, in freshwater, and on land, especially in tropical regions. Crabs feed in varied ways, including scavenging, hunting, grazing on algae, filter feeding, and parasitism, and they are important in fisheries, cuisine, mythology, and art.
Photographer: Arthur Anker