Japanese Shame Faced Crab

Calappa japonica

Japanese Shame Faced Crab

A broad crab of sandy and muddy bottoms between about 10 and 160 metres, the Japanese shame faced crab folds its flat claws up over its face like a shield. Those claws double as tools for cracking open snails, and the species turns up now and then in fish markets.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Malacostraca › Decapoda › Calappidae › Calappa

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 209495.

FAQ

How deep does the Japanese Shame Faced Crab live?
The Japanese Shame Faced Crab (Calappa japonica) is typically found at 10–163 m.
Is the Japanese Shame Faced Crab dangerous to divers?
The Japanese Shame Faced Crab is harmless to divers.