A snow crab looks like this:
10 Interesting Facts About Snow Crabs
- They're most commonly found in the Atlantic ocean, but also live in the Pacific, Arctic, and Gulf of Alaska.
- They are also known by the names "queen crab", "spider crab" and by their genus name, chionoecetes opilio.
- Snow crabs are commonly picked up by trawlers seeking fish.
- The males are around twice the size of the females.
- Snow crabs usually live between five and six years.
- The name "snow crab" is thought to come from the fact that the sides of their feet are bright white, regardless of the color of their shells.
- Snow crabs usually eat smaller crustaceans, but the females are also known to eat other snow crabs!
- A female snow crab can carry up to 150,000 eggs at a time.
- Snow crabs can be found up to 3,900 ft underwater.
- The species was first officially described in 1780.
