Knowra Velvet crab Velvet crab The velvet crab (Necora puber) is a small edible crab of rocky shores in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, named for the fine velvety hairs covering its shell.
Necora puber : A swimming crab species native to the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, commonly called the velvet crab. This is the scientific name of the species known as the velvet crab.
Swimming crab : A portunid crab adapted for swimming, usually with flattened, paddle-shaped rear legs. The velvet crab's paddle-like last legs are characteristic of swimming crabs.
Crab fishery : The capture and management of crabs for commercial or subsistence use. Velvet crabs are harvested as seafood in parts of their range.
Edible crab : Cancer pagurus is a large European crab with a broad, reddish-brown shell, harvested for food. It is a familiar edible crab from overlapping European waters, but belongs to a different family.
Portunidae : A family of decapod crustaceans that includes swimming crabs with flattened hind legs. The velvet crab belongs to this family of swimming crabs.
Crustacean appendage : A jointed limb or mouthpart attached to a crustacean's body, used for movement, feeding, sensing, or defense. Its legs and claws perform the crab's swimming, walking, feeding, and defensive actions.
Crab pot : A baited trap designed to catch crabs while allowing smaller animals to escape. Crab pots are among the gear used to catch velvet crabs.
Green crab : Carcinus maenas is a widespread shore crab native to northeastern Atlantic coasts and introduced elsewhere. It shares rocky coastal habitats with velvet crabs but is smaller and belongs to another crab family.
Decapoda : An order of crustaceans characterized by five pairs of walking legs, including crabs, lobsters, and shrimps. This order provides the broader crustacean group that contains the velvet crab.
Crustacean molting : The shedding of a crustacean's rigid exoskeleton, allowing the animal to grow before its new shell hardens. A velvet crab must molt to increase in size despite its rigid shell.
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