The Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) may resemble mittens, however, they are members of the family Varanidae found in rivers and estuaries in East Asia’s coastline and are also called Shanghai Hairy Crab, named after its furry claws identical to those of mittens. The crab is medium-size with claws spotting dense patches of dark setae. It spends its life in freshwater but breeds in the sea or brackish water. This omnivorous creature is a delicacy in Eastern China, especially its roe. They have a light-brown body and an almost square-shaped carapace. Males are identified by V-shaped abdomens and female U-shaped abdomens.
The Chinese Mitten Crab has a carapace length between 1”-3” (2.5-7.5 cm), carapace width of 1.2”-3.9” (3-10 cm), body height of .6”-1.7” (1.4-4.4 cm), and weight between 1.6-5.6 oz (45-160 g). The typical lifespan of the Chinese Mitten Crab is between 2-5 years.
The Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) may resemble mittens, however, they are members of the family Varanidae found in rivers and estuaries in East Asia’s coastline and are also called Shanghai Hairy Crab, named after its furry claws identical to those of mittens. The crab is medium-size with claws spotting dense patches of dark setae. It spends its life in freshwater but breeds in the sea or brackish water. This omnivorous creature is a delicacy in Eastern China, especially its roe. They have a light-brown body and an almost square-shaped carapace. Males are identified by V-shaped abdomens and female U-shaped abdomens.
The Chinese Mitten Crab has a carapace length between 1”-3” (2.5-7.5 cm), carapace width of 1.2”-3.9” (3-10 cm), body height of .6”-1.7” (1.4-4.4 cm), and weight between 1.6-5.6 oz (45-160 g). The typical lifespan of the Chinese Mitten Crab is between 2-5 years.