Crustaceans
Blue claw crabs have a mighty pinch, so it's best to
view these feisty crabs from afar and keep your hands
at a distance!
~Photo courtesy of nbii-life: John J. Mossesso~
Did You Know?
- Although the word "crab" is part of its name, the horseshoe crab is more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to true crabs.
- Crustaceans have a hard exoskeleton made up of keratin, which is the same make-up of our fingernails. To grow larger, crustaceans undergo a molting (shedding) stage, which is when they lose their exoskeleton and can leave them vulnerable to predators.
- Crustacean's and horseshoe crabs have blue-colored blood because their oxygen-carrying compound known as "hemocyanin", gives their blood a blue color pigment. Humans have red-colored blood because our oxygen-carrying compound, known as "hemoglobin", gives our blood a red pigment.
