crab
Japanese Name:
蟹
Romaji Name:
kani
Description
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A crab is a crustacean with a broad, flat body covered by a hard shell, ten legs, and two front claws used for defense and feeding. Crabs live in oceans, freshwater, and on land, and they move sideways due to the structure of their legs.
History
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Crabs have been around for over 200 million years, evolving from earlier crustaceans in the late Paleozoic era.
The earliest crabs were small and lived in marine environments, with fossils showing they existed as far back as the Jurassic period.
In ancient times, crabs were recognized by various cultures. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used them as symbols and often depicted them in art and mythology.
In Greek mythology, the crab is associated with the story of Hercules, where a giant crab attacked him during his battle with the Hydra.
Crabs have been a vital food source for humans for millennia, appearing in ancient cooking traditions and continuing as a popular seafood worldwide.
Today, crabs are widely distributed in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats, and are important both ecologically and commercially.