#sand crab

[amnhnyc]

Have you ever seen one of these critters at the beach? Also known as “sand crabs” or “sand fleas,” Pacific mole crabs (Emerita analoga) can be found across the western coasts of North and South America. East Coast residents might encounter their relatives, the Atlantic sand crabs (Emerita talpoida), during summertime beach trips. Mole crabs migrate with the tides, keeping up with breaking waves to filter feed on plankton brought in by the crashing waters. These critters use their back legs to get around, and they burrow backwards, too.

Photo: eeowes, CC BY-NC 4.0, flickr

[daily-crabbys]

Today's crab is: weird little thing

[drafthearse]

Lepidopa websteri, 15mm. Lower Chesapeake Bay, Silver Beach, Northampton County, VA - 02/20/14. Caught by VIMS Trawl Survey. Photo by Robert Aguilar, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

[corviisquire]

showing my sister how to put back caught sand crabs DID NOT go well

[crabsinvideogames]

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening / The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

Three sand crabs can be found on the Toronbo Shores, to the east of Link's sword in the game's intro. Sand crabs can also be found in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, with their sprite in the GameBoy releases being reused in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. On the Switch remake, their model resembles it's appearance in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Crab Meat Day

National Crab Meat Day is celebrated on March 9 every year. This holiday celebrates the tasty goodness of crab meat and the delicious recipes that include this ingredient.

There is a large market for crab in America and an even larger market for imitation crab meat, which is used as a replacement for actual crab in many recipes. Imitation crab is preferred by a lot of people, but when it comes down to it, people love the soft, sweet flavor of crab meat, and nothing can replace the original.

Crabs are so popular because not only are they super delicious, but they are great for health too. And guess what? There are tons of ways in which a crab can be cooked. This means even if you don’t like one recipe, you can easily opt for another one that is more of your flavor. So grab your wallets, call a couple of friends, and get ready to celebrate National Crab Day with a crab-eating fest. We promise it will definitely be worth it. 

History of National Crab Meat Day

National Crab Meat Day pays homage to the deliciousness of crab meat and its popularity across the country. People across the world love seafood— especially crabs. People, on the other hand, appear to be more concerned with the flavor of crabs and how delicious they are rather than the health benefits they give. Crabs, according to the study, are abundant in protein and contain high quantities of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B12, and selenium. Omega-3 and protein supplements are in high demand around the world because they play such an important part in keeping people healthy and fit. But the truth is that none of these supplements can compare to the real nutrition you’ll get from eating a crab.

Crabs are crustaceans found in all the oceans of the world. They are covered with a hard shell, known as an exoskeleton, and usually have two claws known as pincers. One of these pincers is usually larger than the other. The claws also have meat and are one of the most flavorful and meatiest parts of the crab. 

Crabs were first consumed in ancient Rome by persons who lived near the sea or frequently went by sea. These individuals introduced the dishes to Britain and the trend of consuming lobster, crab, shellfish, etc. began to spread. In the mid-fifteenth century, crabs were boiled and eaten cold with vinegar. But it wasn’t until  Victorian times that different dressings for crabs were created by cooks. Archeologists have also discovered that blue crabs were a vital source of food for Native Americans, Euro-American colonists, and African Americans. Crab remnants dating back to the 17th century were unearthed in Maryland, revealing this.

Some species of soft-shell crabs are eaten whole, including the shell, while with others only the legs and claws are edible. The roe or crab eggs are also a delicacy across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia. In America, Chesapeake Bay is the area where crab roe is primarily consumed. 

Crab meat is known for its delicate, sweet flavor. So while there are recipes, particularly in Asia, where the meat is used in recipes that use a lot of spice, most American recipes for crab rely on the flavor of the meat itself. Alaskan crab, for instance, is cooked by boiling it with garlic and butter and not much else. 

Crab is also a popular ingredient in American sushi, but because of the expense, most restaurants prefer to use imitation crab rather than actual crab since the flavor isn’t central to the experience in these recipes. When it comes to fishing and fisheries, crabs account for 20% of all the crustaceans caught, farmed, or consumed. They are eaten all over the world in many different preparations, recipes, and methods.

Crabs are so popular amongst health experts because they can help reduce blood clotting, prevent anemia by producing red blood cells, and most importantly, the delicacy can decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, the benefits of crab were not so well-known till much later. In fact, crabs took a while to reach the U.S. food market.

National Crab Meat Day timeline

1891

The Creation

Thomas J. Murrey's book ”Cookery with a Chafing Dish” mentions a crab cake recipe.

1910

Singing Along

A 1910 poem, named “Summertown,” appreciates crab cakes.

1930s

Crab Fisheries Develop in Alaska

Japanese fishermen develop crab fisheries in Alaska and start bringing in small catches.

1939

Cooking It Up

Crosby Gaige makes the term popular in the New York World’s Fair Cookbook.

1950s

Crab Fisheries Become More Established

Having started in Alaska, the fisheries are now monitored and the catches are recorded in a more formal way.

1980s

A Decline in Crab Fisheries

Over time, the catches slow down, crab populations decline, and fisheries begin to shut down.

2000s

Crab Populations Recover

Although the populations can never go back to the same levels, crab populations in Alaska recover enough to allow for small fisheries.

National Crab Meat Day FAQs

Which state has the most crabs?

Maryland is the state with the most crabs in the country.

Why is crab fishing so dangerous?

Alaskan crab fishing is particularly dangerous because of the temperatures and the risk of hypothermia to the fishermen. 

Can I eat crab every day?

Eating crabs on a daily basis can improve the zinc in your body. 

National Crab Meat Day Activities

Cook some crab cakes: Nothing embodies America’s love for crab meat as much as crab cakes, so get your ingredients together and make some.

Eat crab at a local seafood restaurant: Head over to a seafood place known for their fresh catch and get yourself some delicious Alaskan crab served with the simplest ingredients.

Go crab fishing: Catching crabs in a pot is a time-honored way of fishing for them, so head over to Florida or Alaska and catch yourself some crabs.

5 Incredible Facts About Crabs

There are different grades of crab meat: In the U.S., the grades of crab meat depend on the size of the crab, and the location where the crab comes from.

Imitation crab was invented by the Japanese: Almost 800 years ago, the Japanese invented the technique of mincing fish, which is used to make imitation crab meat today.

Crab exports are a big deal: The total value of crab exports from America comes to over 250 million U.S. dollars.

Some fisheries declaw crabs: This controversial practice involves declawing crabs and putting them back in the water, and is justified because some species of crab can regrow their claws.

Crab meat is very healthy: Crab meat is low in fat and high in folate, niacin, and zinc, which are all necessary nutrients for the human body.

Why We Love National Crab Meat Day

We love crab meat: We love to eat crab meat because it is sweet and delicious. This day is a great excuse to eat all the crab we can.

It talks about the importance of consuming crabs: The day focuses on why crabs are so important to consume and the myriad health advantages they provide. Crabs are high in protein and have a high nutritional value.

Introduces different crab specialties: On this day, several crab specialties are brought to the forefront so that crab lovers have a variety of options.

Source

[kittyglitter31415926]

I'm not sorry for this!

[monstersoffilgaia]

[wanderfan2000]

Sand Crab: Ah, I adore the beach. 

[yeee-claw]

Look at this weird Boi very cool keep it up!

Sand Crab from Old School RuneScape

[star-and-my-1-car]

crab and spider

sand crab (Ovalipes australiensis)

[spokenswords178]

[daily-crabbys]

Today's crab is: sand flea

[glassjustrambles]

I went to the beach and found this little dude

[heartnosekid]

colorful box crab (cycloes granulosa) | source

[hawkpartys]

Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) eating a Pacific Sand Crab (Emerita analoga)