Teddy Bear Crab – that sounds strange unless you are knowledgeable about sea life. I spent almost the entire day researching some information about these cute animals. I hope you find it beneficial!
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What Is Teddy Bear Crab?
This fuzzy underwater friend is a species of Teddy Bear Crab (Polydectus supplier) who’s known for their habit of holding two of the tiniest anemones in the claws of their hands for defensive purposes. As you can see from the name, it’s called “teddy bear” because it’s covered in hair-like setae which make it resemble a teddy bear.
There is nothing more common for you to see on our shores than the hairy crab. They are often found in flat or rocky areas. Known as the “teddy bear” of crabs, these hairy little creatures lie on the surface of the water fluffily and look positively cuddly. But in the daytime, especially during the day, they are very hard to spot as they tend to be well hidden.
Where Can We See Teddy Bear Crab?
A Teddy Bear Crab’s habitat is found in the French Polynesian Exclusive Economic Zone, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Red Sea.
Teddy Bear Crab Features
We’ve already seen another species of Teddy Bear Crab, but this is the first species to have figured out that holding onto stinging anemones might come in handy against would-be predators. This is not the first time a crustacean has used anemones to fend off any unwanted encounters; another adorable and highly-spirited creature, the Pom-Pom Crab, also uses anemones to protect itself from harm.
P. cupulifer prefers to hold the small anemone species Telmatactis decora in its claws. This species grows to only a height of 3 inches. The crab’s carapace is only 3/4 inch thick, so the anemones may appear like oversized mittens on its petite frame.
What Does Teddy Bear Crab Eat?
In general, they are omnivores, so they will eat anything that they can catch. Several species of xanthines are known to be poisonous because they feed on zoanthids and retain the toxins produced by the zoanthids to defend themselves.
Teddy Bear Crab’s Status And Threat
Our Teddy Bear Crabs are listed as threatened animals in Singapore. They are also affected as well by human activities such as reclamation and pollution, as other creatures in the intertidal zone are. Visitors who are careless while trampling the ground have a negative impact on locals as well.
FAQs
Do crab legs have hair?
To detect chemicals, touch, and movement, crabs have many tiny ‘hairs’, called setae
Why is hairy crab hairy?
The fur patch on their front claws gives them the name hairy crabs or mitten crabs. … The most famous hairy crabs can be found in Jiangsu, an hour from Shanghai, at Yangcheng Lake
Why does crab walk sideways?
Since crabs have stiff, jointed legs, they can walk sideways more easily and faster. When walking sideways, one leg does not cross the path of the other. Crabs also don’t trip over their feet as often. Maintaining four pairs of walking legs, plus a pair of claws, is important!
Conclusions
The purpose of this article is to introduce the reader to the teddy bear crab. It is one kind of crab that is referred to as a hairy crab. Several hours later, after doing some research, the information above came up. Thanks for reading it and I hope that you enjoy it!
Annette M. Chaney is an experienced marine biologist with over 20 years of experience as an aquarist and fishkeeper. She started her first aquarium at a young age, filling it with frogs and goldfish obtained from the ten-cent pet store.
Annette grew up caring for and breeding African Cichlids, which led to a hobby in high school that doubled as a profitable means. Attending Reed College gave her time to solidify herself as an accomplished aquarium caretaker with an eye for sales. After that, from 2009 – 2013, she studied at Roger Williams University – one of the most prestigious universities for Aquaculture and Aquarium in USA. She is the founder of AquariumCircle since 2010.