Shore Crab
Shore Crab
Invertebrate
A tough-shelled crustacean hiding in rocky crevices.
💡 Fun Facts
- Has a tough exoskeleton to protect it from waves and predators, and hides deep in the rocky crevices when the tide is out.
Name Story
Carcinus maenas
means “the raging crab”
What does its name mean?
- Carcinus — crabGreek karkinos (also the root of 'cancer' and the zodiac Crab)
- maenas — a frenzied, raving woman — a MaenadGreek mainas; the wild followers of the god Dionysus
This feisty little crab is named after the wild, raving maenads of Greek myth. It is a fitting name for such a bold, scrappy creature — so tough and adaptable that it has spread to shores right around the world.