$Jager The crab belongs to the class Malacostraca, which is the largest and most diverse group of crustaceans (including also lobsters and shrimp).

To understand where it fits in nature, here is the taxonomic organization:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda (animals with exoskeletons and jointed legs)

Subphylum: Crustacea

Class: Malacostraca

Order: Decapoda (means "ten feet," referring to the five pairs of legs)

Infraorder: Brachyura (the so-called "true crabs")

Quick Facts

Sideways Walking: Most crabs walk sideways due to the joint structure of their legs, which are angled outward, facilitating rapid movement over uneven terrain or crevices.

Carcinization: There is a curious biological phenomenon where various species of crustaceans independently evolve into a body form very similar to that of a crab. It is as if nature "likes" this design.

Molt: As they have a rigid external skeleton, they need to shed it periodically to grow, a process called molting or ecdysis.