Five Surprising Facts About Crabs

Basically, crabs are awesome. Judith S. Weis dishes all about these curious crustaceans in her new book, Walking Sideways.

What do cosmetics, adhesives, printing inks, and photographic emulsions have in common? Crabs!

Photo from fvqg.info, Wikimedia in Walking Sideways by Judith S. Weis, © 2012 by Cornell University Press. / Via cornellpress.cornell.edu

All are made from chitosan, a substance derived from crab shells.

Crabs can break off their injured limbs and regenerate them.

Photo by P.Weis from Walking Sideways by Judith S. Weis, © 2012 by Cornell University Press. / Via cornellpress.cornell.edu

If you were born between June 21st and July 22nd, your astrological sign is Cancer the crab. Cancers are described to have crab-like traits, for instance, tending to try to blend with their environments and be self-protective.

Photo from NOAA in Walking Sideways by Judith S. Weis, © 2012 by Cornell University Press. / Via cornellpress.cornell.edu

Hermit crabs actually thrive on social interaction with other hermit crabs.

Photo by ZooFari, Wikimedia from Walking Sideways by Judith S. Weis, © 2012 by Cornell University Press. / Via cornellpress.cornell.edu

Most crabs are omnivores. Some even catch their own fish!

Photo from NOAA in Walking Sideways by Judith S. Weis, © 2012 by Cornell University Press. / Via cornellpress.cornell.edu

Here, a crab is seen devouring a squid.

For more crab facts, pick up a copy of Walking Sideways, published by Cornell University Press.