You may think its small nature is a hindrance, but the European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) is aggressive and an invasive species of the family Portunidae capable of changing the balance in a habitat. It has colonized several habitats though was native to the European coast and the Baltic sea. Also called Green Crab or Shoe crab, it loves estuaries and rocky intertidal areas. The European Green Crab is identified by a set of five triangular teeth, also called spines, and three rounded lobes found between the eyes. Juveniles that resemble the Dungeness are separated from the later by the number of spines behind their eyes.
The European Green Crab has a carapace length between 2.1”-3.3” (5.3-8.5 cm), carapace width of 2.5”-4” (6.4-10.2 cm), body height of 1”-1.7” (2.6-4.3 cm), and weight between 2.6-3 oz (75-85 g). The typical lifespan of the European Green Crab is between 3-5 years.
You may think its small nature is a hindrance, but the European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) is aggressive and an invasive species of the family Portunidae capable of changing the balance in a habitat. It has colonized several habitats though was native to the European coast and the Baltic sea. Also called Green Crab or Shoe crab, it loves estuaries and rocky intertidal areas. The European Green Crab is identified by a set of five triangular teeth, also called spines, and three rounded lobes found between the eyes. Juveniles that resemble the Dungeness are separated from the later by the number of spines behind their eyes.
The European Green Crab has a carapace length between 2.1”-3.3” (5.3-8.5 cm), carapace width of 2.5”-4” (6.4-10.2 cm), body height of 1”-1.7” (2.6-4.3 cm), and weight between 2.6-3 oz (75-85 g). The typical lifespan of the European Green Crab is between 3-5 years.