Crabs are fascinating crustaceans found in oceans, rivers, and coastal areas around the world. They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, with each species having its own unique features and habitat. Learning the names of different types of crabs in English is a great way to improve your vocabulary and understand more about marine life. In this article, you will learn Types of Crabs with Names in English with Pictures, making it easy to identify each crab and remember its name. This guide is perfect for students, teachers, children, and anyone interested in learning about sea animals in simple English.
Crabs with Name List In English
- Blue crab
- King crab
- Snow crab
- Dungeness crab
- Mud crab
- Stone crab
- Soft-shell crab
- Spider crab
- Hermit crab
- Coconut crab
- Fiddler crab
- Ghost crab
- Horseshoe crab
- Mangrove crab
- Green crab
- Red crab
- Brown crab
- Shore crab
- Rock crab
- Sand crab
Common Types of Crabs with Names in English and Pictures
- Blue Crab
A coastal crab with a blue-tinted shell and claws, found in Atlantic waters, valued for sweet meat, widely used in regional seafood dishes.
- King Crab
Large deep-sea crab with long legs and thick shell, living in cold oceans, famous for rich, tender meat and high commercial value.
- Snow Crab
Cold-water crab with long, slender legs and delicate white meat, commonly harvested for restaurants and seafood markets worldwide.
- Dungeness Crab
Medium-sized crab native to the Pacific coast, known for sweet, firm meat and smooth shell, popular in North American seafood cuisine.
- Mud Crab
Large crab living in mangroves and muddy estuaries, prized for strong claws and rich, flavorful meat in Asian cooking.
- Stone Crab
Crab known for powerful claws harvested without killing it, found in warm waters, valued for firm, slightly sweet claw meat.
- Soft-Shell Crab
A crab that has recently molted its shell, making the entire body edible, commonly fried or sautéed in seafood dishes.
- Spider Crab
Crab with very long legs and small body, resembling a spider, living in deep or coastal waters, sometimes reaching enormous size.
- Hermit Crab
Small crab that lives inside empty shells for protection, commonly found on beaches and shallow waters, known for changing shells as it grows.
- Coconut Crab
Largest land-living crab, found on tropical islands, capable of climbing trees and cracking coconuts, living mostly away from the sea.
- Fiddler Crab
Small shore crab where males have one oversized claw, used for signaling, commonly found in mudflats and coastal wetlands.
- Ghost Crab
Fast-moving pale crab living on sandy beaches, mostly nocturnal, known for quick burrowing and ability to blend with surroundings.
- Horseshoe Crab
Ancient marine arthropod with hard shell and long tail spine, not a true crab, important for medical research and ecosystems.
- Mangrove Crab
Crab living among mangrove roots, adapted to muddy, low-oxygen areas, feeding on plant matter and small organisms.
- Green Crab
Small aggressive crab with greenish shell, native to Europe, now invasive in many regions, impacting local shellfish populations.
- Red Crab
Crab with bright red shell, often found on islands, famous for large land migrations during breeding seasons.
- Brown Crab
Large edible crab with rough brown shell, found in European waters, valued for sweet white and rich brown meat.
- Shore Crab
Small crab living along rocky shores and tidal pools, adaptable to changing water levels and temperatures.
- Rock Crab
Hard-shelled crab living among rocks in coastal waters, feeding on shellfish, known for strong claws and firm meat.
- Sand Crab
Small burrowing crab found in sandy beaches, often seen moving with waves, feeding on tiny organisms in shoreline water.
Common Types of Crabs with Names in English and Pictures
List of Crabs with Names in English
- Swimming crab
- Flower crab
- Reef crab
- Coral crab
- Land crab
- Freshwater crab
- River crab
- Sea crab
- Box crab
- Flat crab
- Hairy crab
- Patriot crab
- Giant crab
- Deep-sea crab
- Coastal crab
- Tropical crab
- Island crab
- Lagoon crab
- Bay crab
- Marsh crab
Different Types of Crabs with Names and Pictures
- Swimming Crab
A marine crab with paddle-shaped rear legs adapted for swimming, commonly found in coastal waters, actively hunting prey rather than crawling on the seabed.
- Flower Crab
A colorful swimming crab with patterned shell resembling floral designs, commonly found in warm seas and valued for sweet, tender meat.
- Reef Crab
A crab living among coral reefs, adapted to hide in crevices, feeding on algae and small organisms while contributing to reef ecosystem balance.
- Coral Crab
Small crab closely associated with coral colonies, often camouflaged, living symbiotically and feeding on mucus, algae, or tiny reef organisms.
- Land Crab
A crab that lives mainly on land, returning to the sea only to breed, adapted for air breathing and burrowing in soil.
- Freshwater Crab
Crab species living entirely in rivers, streams, or lakes, adapted to low salinity environments and often hiding under rocks or vegetation.
- River Crab
A freshwater crab inhabiting rivers and flowing streams, feeding on plants and small animals, important to local aquatic ecosystems.
- Sea Crab
General term for crabs living in saltwater oceans, showing wide variety in size, shape, and behavior across marine habitats.
- Box Crab
Crab with a box-like shell shape, able to tuck legs tightly underneath, often found in sandy or muddy marine environments.
- Flat Crab
Crab with a flattened body adapted for hiding under sand or rocks, helping avoid predators in shallow coastal waters.
- Hairy Crab
Crab known for fine hair-like coverings on claws or body, often found in rivers, prized in cuisine for rich roe.
- Patriot Crab
A locally used common name for certain land crabs, not a scientific classification, varying by region and cultural naming traditions.
- Giant Crab
Exceptionally large crab species with wide leg span, living in deep or cold waters, known for impressive size and strong limbs.
- Deep-Sea Crab
Crab adapted to deep ocean environments, tolerating high pressure and low light, feeding on detritus or small deep-sea organisms.
- Coastal Crab
Crab living along shorelines and tidal zones, adapted to changing water levels, feeding on algae, small animals, and organic matter.
- Tropical Crab
Crab species inhabiting warm tropical regions, often colorful, living in reefs, mangroves, beaches, or coastal forests.
- Island Crab
Crab native to island ecosystems, sometimes land-based, often evolving unique behaviors due to isolation and limited predators.
- Lagoon Crab
Crab living in shallow coastal lagoons with mixed salt and freshwater, adapted to calm waters and muddy or sandy bottoms.
- Bay Crab
Crab found in sheltered bays and estuaries, tolerating varying salinity, feeding on small organisms and organic debris.
- Marsh Crab
Crab inhabiting salt marshes and wetlands, burrowing in soft mud, playing key roles in soil aeration and ecosystem health.
Different Types of Crabs with Names and Pictures
All Types of Crab list in English
- Blue swimmer crab
- Red rock crab
- Asian shore crab
- Atlantic crab
- Pacific crab
- Japanese spider crab
- Chinese mitten crab
- European green crab
- American blue crab
- Australian mud crab
- Indian mud crab
- White crab
- Sri Lankan crab
- Market crab
- Edible crab
- Seafood crab
- Wild crab
- Farmed crab
- Shell crab
- Ocean crab
Common Crabs Types with their Pictures
- Blue Swimmer Crab
A fast-swimming marine crab with blue-tinted legs and paddle-shaped rear limbs, found in Indo-Pacific waters, valued for sweet, delicate meat in seafood cuisine.
- Red Rock Crab
A coastal crab with reddish-brown shell, living among rocky shores, feeding on shellfish, and known for firm meat and strong claws.
- Asian Shore Crab
A small crab native to Asian coastlines, adaptable to rocky shores and tidal zones, often invasive elsewhere, feeding on algae and small invertebrates.
- Atlantic Crab
General term for crab species inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean, including coastal and deep-water types, adapted to varying temperatures and marine conditions.
- Pacific Crab
Crab species living in the Pacific Ocean, ranging from shallow coastal waters to deep seas, showing wide diversity in size, habitat, and behavior.
- Japanese Spider Crab
A deep-sea crab with extremely long legs and small body, native to waters around Japan, known as the largest crab by leg span.
- Chinese Mitten Crab
Freshwater crab with hairy claws resembling mittens, migrating to the sea for breeding, prized in cuisine but invasive in many regions.
- European Green Crab
A small aggressive crab with green shell, native to Europe, invasive worldwide, preying on shellfish and disrupting coastal ecosystems.
- American Blue Crab
A widely known crab with blue claws, native to western Atlantic waters, highly valued for sweet meat and important to regional fisheries.
- Australian Mud Crab
Large mangrove-dwelling crab from Australia, known for powerful claws and rich meat, living in estuaries and muddy coastal areas.
- Indian Mud Crab
A large tropical crab found in Indian coastal waters and mangroves, prized for strong claws and flavorful meat in regional cuisine.
- White Crab
A general term for light-colored crab species, often referring to edible crabs with pale shells or meat, varying by region and habitat.
- Sri Lankan Crab
Large mud crab species found around Sri Lanka, famous for size and rich flavor, commonly used in spicy coastal seafood dishes.
- Market Crab
Crab sold commercially in seafood markets, referring to edible species harvested from wild or farms for human consumption.
- Edible Crab
Any crab species suitable for eating, known for safe, flavorful meat, commonly harvested and prepared in various culinary traditions.
- Seafood Crab
Crab species commonly used in seafood dishes, including marine and estuarine types, valued for taste, texture, and nutritional content.
- Wild Crab
Crab caught from natural habitats such as oceans, rivers, or mangroves, not farm-raised, often prized for natural flavor.
- Farmed Crab
Crab raised in controlled aquaculture environments, ensuring steady supply, size consistency, and reduced pressure on wild populations.
- Shell Crab
A crab with hard shell intact, distinguishing it from soft-shell crab, commonly cooked after cracking to access the meat.
- Ocean Crab
Crab species living entirely in ocean environments, adapted to saltwater conditions, ranging from shallow coastal zones to deep-sea habitats.
Common Crabs Types with their Pictures
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