Common Rock Crab
A crabs shell is called a carapace.
It protects its soft body from predators.
Its large claws are used for catching and killing prey.
Crabs have five pairs of jointed legs. If a crab looses a leg it can grow a new one.
Crabs eyes are carried on stalks. Some crabs have long eye stalks and others are very short.
Crabs breathe with gills. They take water in to the gill chamber under the carapace through pairs of slits near the base of their legs. Water passes out through openings in the mouth frame.
As crabs grow too big for their skeleton they moult. The skeleton splits and the crab carefully edges its way out. Its new soft skeleton is underneath.
Crabs have to be very careful at this time in case their predators find them.
Links
Blue Crab
Horseshoe Crab
Crab Diagram.
Horseshoe Crab
A Crab Wordfind
A Crab Crisscross to print and do.
The Rock Pool.
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A Crab Crisscross to print and do.