To many people, crab is a type of food, but to others, this fascinating crustacean is something to learn more about. There are over 6,700 species, most of which can be found in various oceans across the world. Some particular crab types inhabit freshwater and even land. Here are some more interesting tidbits about crabs.

• They may look a bit like spiders, but crabs actually have 10 legs instead of eight- the first pair of legs (appendages) feature pincers- hence while they are sometimes called decapods (deca means ten).

• Crabs belong in the arthropod family along with insects and archanids. Members of this family have segmented appendages.

• Crabs actually have their teeth inside their stomach.

• Adult male crabs are often called jimmies, and adult female crabs are called sooks.

• Generally, crabs usually live up to three years, but some pet crabs can live up two 20 years

• Land Hermit Crabs are generally the one type of crab that are kept as pets simply because they thrive on land. But don’t confuse these with Sea Hermit Crabs, which thrive in water.

• The smallest of the decapod species is the Pea Crab which measures about a few millimeters in length.

• The largest of the decapod species is the Japanese Spider Crab, which can measure up to a body length of 15 inches and a leg span of 13 feet.

• Crabs often communicate with one another by drumming or waving their pincers.

• If a crab loses an appendage, it will grow another one.

• Most crabs are omnivores- which means they eat both plants an animals. But some crabs are vegetarian (they eat algae), and other are carnivores.

• The following types of crabs are not considered true crabs because they don’t have ten appendages: horse shoe crabs, king crabs, hermit crabs, and porcelain  crabs.

• Crabs don’t walk forward, they run sideways.