Black Sea crab: dimensions than feeds, description

In total there are ten thousand species of crabs (decapod crustaceans), and twenty species of them live in the Black Sea. They have pretty decent sizes, unusual shape and habits. Most of them live in the shallow waters of the coastal zone, hiding in the algae. Let's look at what kinds of crabs live in the Black Sea.

Stone crab

The stone crab is the biggest crab of the Black Sea. He prefers to dwell in places where it is deeper. Of course, it can be found near the shore, but only in deserted and deserted places. Black Sea crab, the size of which reaches nine to ten centimeters, does not feed on carrion, like other varieties, it is strong and aggressive in itself, so it can become an agile and fast predator at any moment. In an ambush, a crab can guard small fish, worms, snails. His claws are very strong, he clicks the shells of mollusks, as well as hermit crabs, like seeds.

The Black Sea crab has a special type of muscle. They are at the molecular level quite different from the muscles of man and animal. Interesting is the fact that the color of the shell of the crab always coincides with the color of the stones, surrounded by which it lives. Typically, this is a reddish-brown tint, but the stone crabs that live among the yellow sandstones themselves are very light. They guard their shelter in the stones, as well as the adjacent territory from other inhabitants. Females hat eggs under the belly. At one time they lay 130,000 eggs.

The habitat of this species is very large. Stone crabs not only live in the Black Sea, but also in the Mediterranean, on the Atlantic coast. Until the eighties of the twentieth century, its numbers were quite impressive. This species was even considered to be industrial. Now its number has significantly decreased, it has passed into the category of endangered species.

But nevertheless people lead amateur fishing. During the day, stone crabs are at a depth, and at night they come to the shallows. It is there that they are caught, blinded by the light of flashlights. The number of stone crab was significantly reduced due to deterioration of habitat conditions and uncontrolled catch, because it has good taste qualities.

Hairy crab

The hairy crab of the Black Sea is very similar to the stone one, only its size is half the size. And the shell of dark purple color is covered on top with a dense layer of yellow setae-hairs. Crab Black Sea prefers to dwell near the shore under the rocks. His diet is not very different from eating other crabs. It poses a danger to the gastropods because it cleaves their strong shells like a nut.

Marble crab

The shell of the marble crab can be painted from dark brown to blue-green, it is dotted with a large number of light strips that resemble marble. Because of its dark color and long limbs, it is sometimes called a spider crab. This is the only Black Sea crab that rushes out of the water and travels along the coastal rocks and rocks.

At night they can climb the rocks to a height of five meters, and on gentle slopes leave for five to ten meters from the water. But only if they perceive the danger, they flee with lightning speed and hide in the nearest gap or throw themselves into the water.

What do Black Sea crabs eat? In addition to algae, they eat the remains of their fellow humans and various other organic substances. They will not disdain even scraps from the human table. Marble crabs are also few, and therefore belong to endangered species.

Herbal, or Mediterranean crab

The Black Sea herb crab also lives in shallow water, but prefers abundant grassy thickets, but can also live among the stones. Its green shell reaches eight centimeters. When he meets a predator, he does not really rely on his claws, but instantly escapes. But he runs very quickly, albeit sideways. Its speed reaches up to one meter per second.

Lilac crab, or water-loving

Crabs of the Black Sea are very interesting. Among them there is another noteworthy water-crab crab. It is rather slow, you can meet it not only in shallow water, but also at depths of up to fifteen meters. The lilac crab is very fond of solitude. It can be buried in the sand and for weeks on end there can be no air or food.

Crab-Plavunets

Crab-Flounder is another lover digging into the ground. It has small dimensions, but its hind legs are slightly flattened, like blades. With their help, he throws sand on himself. In addition, these unique flippers crabs are successfully used and in the process of swimming.

It should be noted that this is the only species that can swim. All other crabs of the Black Sea do not know how to do this.

Blue crab

Blue crab is the most rare type of sandy soil. It appeared in the waters of the Black Sea in the sixties of the twentieth century. And he came from the Mediterranean. They brought it with ballast water ships of the eastern coast of the United States. However, the Black Sea was too cold for them. Young crab can not survive at such temperatures, and therefore it is extremely rare.

Invisible Crab

The invisibility crab is an amazing specimen. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is almost impossible to detect among algae. Thin and long-legged creation is a true master of disguise.

He plants on his armor tiny algae bushes and in this form wanders unnoticed.

Crab-pea

There is also a very small crab-pea. As a rule, he lives among mussels, and sometimes even settles inside a shell with a living mollusk. Such crabs can be found in shallow water in the stones, only to discern them is extremely difficult, since the adult is placed on a ten-kopeck coin.

Instead of an afterword

The Black Sea has become a home for twenty species of crabs in the places where the rocky shore is, right at the water's edge, thick thickets of algae begin. In such places, many inhabitants of the underwater world, including crabs, live. They took a liking to themselves and sandbanks.

And the smallest representatives can be found only if you take a bunch of algae and wash them in the pelvis, then only the crab-pea-the smallest member of the family and the greatest master of disguise-will manifest itself.