Invertebrates
Velvet Swimming Crab
Necora puber · also called velvet crab, devil crab
Under a ledge on a rocky shore, a velvet swimming crab backs into a crevice, its red eyes glowing and both claws raised.
Overview
The velvet swimming crab, Necora puber, is a bad-tempered, red-eyed crab of rocky shores and shallow seabeds along the north-eastern Atlantic coast. Its velvety shell, swimming legs, and fierce defence make it one of the most distinctive crabs of European shores.
A crab with a temper
The velvet crab is so quick to defend itself that anyone turning over a stone is wise to look out for a pair of red eyes and raised claws.
Status
Not Evaluated, but common along rocky coasts.
Velvet Swimming Crab: common questions
Why is it called a velvet crab?
Its shell is covered in fine, velvety hairs, usually dark brown to blue-grey.
Can velvet crabs swim?
Yes, its last pair of legs are flattened into paddles, which it uses to swim, unlike most crabs.
Why is it called the devil crab?
It is aggressive and quick to raise its claws at anything that threatens it, and it has bright red eyes.
Where is the velvet swimming crab found?
It lives on rocky shores and in shallow seabeds of the north-eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Morocco.