Fluffy and crispy, corn fritters are our new favorite Southern-fried side (sorry, hush puppies). Littered with fresh sweet corn, these are the perfect addition to countless summer dinners, from a crab ...

But hold up, before you dive headfirst into a shell-shattering frenzy, did you know there’s a whole world of crab beyond your average snow crab legs? We’re talking a crustacean cornucopia, from the dainty delights of the Dungeness to the meaty majesty of the Alaskan King.

Crabs are decapod crustaceans, either the Brachyura (the "true crabs") or various groups within the closely related Anomura (hermit crabs and allies), characterised by having a heavily armoured shell, their tail segments concealed under the body, the ability to run sideways, and the habit of hiding in rocky crevices.

Crabs are one of the most diverse and fascinating crustaceans found in oceans, freshwater habitats, and even on land. With thousands of species worldwide, these arthropods come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, each adapted to its environment.

Explore crab facts, from their sideways walk and powerful pincers to their habitats, diet, evolution, and importance to marine life.

Crab, any short-tailed member of the crustacean order Decapoda (phylum Arthropoda)—especially the brachyurans (infraorder Brachyura), or true crabs, but also other forms such as the anomurans (suborder Anomura), which include the hermit crabs.

Crabs are crustaceans and related to lobsters and shrimps. There are almost 5,000 different species of crabs, about 4,500 are true crabs, plus around 500 are hermit crabs (hermit crabs do not have a very hard shell and use other animals old shells for protection).