The Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) is a crustacean in the Portunidae family of crabs. It is also known as the Littoral Crab and the Green Crab.
The Shore Crab is greenish in colour, but it can also be brown, grey, or red. Its carapace (shell) has five short notches along the edge, behind each eye. It also has three undulations which protrude beyond the eyes. It has ten legs.
Its carapace is about 9 centimetres (3-4 inches) wide.
It is widespread in the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea. It can live in a range of habitats, incuding muddy, sandy, or rocky sea floors. It is also euryhaline, which means that it can tolerated a range of salty waters.
The Shore Crab attaches to the bottom of ships and boats.
It feeds on molluscs, worms, small crabs, and small shrimp.
The female produces up to 185,000 eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae moult several times before becoming adult crabs.
Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM