Common Shore Crab
Carcinus maenas
Typically greenish or brownish, the Shore Crab can change colour over time to match its surroundings and is quick to defend itself with pincers. It will eat anything it can handle, from worms and molluscs to bits of detritus. On Lihou, turning over a stone in a rockpool at low tide often reveals one scuttling away, claws raised in warning.
- Habitat: Rocky shores, sandy bottoms, and seagrass bedsβoften hiding under rocks at low tide.
- When to See: Year-round
- Length: Up to ~8 cm