Crabs & Lobsters
If you are very fortunate you may find some of the following crabs and lobsters on the beach or coastline. If you don't find any in the natural environment take a visit to Anglesey Sea Zoo. They have a hatchery which grows baby lobsters from berried hens and puts them back into the seas around Anglesey. So if you do find a lobster, let us know: it could be one of our babies!
CRABS AND LOBSTERS
These are crustaceans and are in the same group as barnacles, prawns and shrimps. They have jointed legs.
Crabs and lobsters must moult their hard shell every time they grow. They are vulnerable for a few days whilst their skin is soft and then it hardens. They can chop off legs if they are diseased or to escape a predator. Crab sizes range from microscopic to 3.5 metres across.
Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas)
These can grow up to 8cm. One of the commonest around British coasts, Male waits for female to moult and then mates. They feed on worms, molluscs and crustaceans.
Edible Crab (Cancer pagarus)
These can grow up to 20cm across. They eat lots of molluscs, can live for up to 20 yrs and the large females can carry up to 20 million eggs! They are fished commercially around North Wales shores
Spiny Spider Crab (Maja squinado)
15cm across. Often covered in seaweed. Found under rocks and seaweed. Crabs gather together in heaps for several months. This may be for protection as well as to reproduce.
Sea Toad (Hyas araneus)
These little creatures grow up to 3-5 cm across. They are to be found on the lower shore amongst rocks, seaweed and on sand. They eat lots of seaweed and their carapace is often covered in encrusting invertebrates.
Lobster (Homarus gammarus)
The broad claw of a lobster is for crushing shells and the narrow claw is for cutting. Lobsters are naturally blue and only turn red when cooked. Lobsters are solitary creatures and live on their own in caves with just their claws sticking out. They are cannibals and will eat each other. They breed between April and July with 8-10 months incubation. They release 20, 000 eggs in spring.
You can only tell a lobsters age by a chemical in their brain. They can have a long long life and can live 70 years if undisturbed.
Lobsters can enjoy a long life of solitude!
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