The difference between meat crabs and hairy crabs

Meat crabs and hairy crabs are two common freshwater crabs. They have some differences in appearance, growth environment, feeding habits, etc. The following is a detailed introduction to meat crabs and hairy crabs:

Freshwater Crab

Appearance features:

Meat crabs are smaller in size, usually with flat, oblate shells that appear dark brown or dark red, with thick chelicerae and a rough shell surface.

Growth environment:

Meat crabs live in freshwater environments, usually in waters with abundant aquatic plants and clear water quality, such as rivers, lakes or swamps.

feeding habits:

Meat crabs mainly feed on plant fragments, aquatic plants, small aquatic animals, etc., and are omnivores.

adaptability:

Meat crabs have high requirements for water quality and have relatively poor adaptability to water pollution and changes in the ecological environment.

Chinese Mitten Crab

Appearance features:

Hairy crabs are larger in size, have a light yellow or orange carapace, and have obvious hairs on their chelicerae. The characteristic "fist-shaped" chelicerae is one of its main identifying features.

Growth environment:

Hairy crabs usually live in estuary areas where fresh water and salt water meet. They like to move in river beds where mud and sand are mixed, and they are also artificially raised by humans.

feeding habits:

Hairy crabs are carnivores and mainly feed on aquatic plants, small fish, shrimps, etc.

adaptability:

Hairy crabs have strong adaptability and can survive environmental changes or pollution.

Other differences:

• Purpose: Meat crabs are generally kept as ornamental pets or eaten; hairy crabs are famous for their delicious meat and are a popular aquatic product for human consumption.

• Economic value: Hairy crabs are one of the important economic aquatic products due to their abundant yield and delicious meat quality. Meat crabs also have certain breeding and commercial value in some areas.

Although meat crabs and hairy crabs both belong to the crayfish family, they have some significant differences in appearance, habitat, eating habits and uses, and they are adapted to different ecological environments.

animal tags： crab