line decor
HOME  |   THE ISLANDS  |    HISTORY  |     WILDLIFE  |   WILDFLOWERS  |   BIRDS  |  ISLE OF HARRIS  |  ISLE OF LEWIS  |  SEASCAPES  |  BEACHES 
line decor
 
 
Crabs - Hebrides - Hebridean Wildlife - The Isle of Harris -The Isle of Lewis - Western Isles - Crustaceans
The Hebrides or Western isles is a great place to see crustaceans. There are many different types of crabs to be seen throughout The Hebrides. The great beaches here mean that you can easily spot many different crabs.


ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN BY OURSELVES
Feel free to use any images you wish from the website F.O.C.

Hi-Res Images can be supplied for a small
admin charge of £3.00 per image
Email: chris@gcwweb.com
Crabs- Western Isles

Green Crab - Western Isles
Green Crab - Carcinus maenas
Bosta Beach - Western Isles - Aug 2009
(Click Image for Larger Pictures)        
Crab - Tolsta -Outer Hebrides   green crab at Bosta beach   Crab seen at Traigh Mhor beach Tolsta Western Isles
Masked Crab - Tolsta
  
Green Crab - Bosta
 
Crab - Traigh Mhor
This crab was seen at Traigh Mhor - Isle of Lewis.This crab lives buried in the sand. Unlike many crabs who walk sideways this crab burrows backwards. Read more about the Masked Crab........
 
This green crab was on Bosta Beach - Great Bernera - August 2009 .Female green crabs can produce up to 185,000 eggs and larvae develop offshore in several stages before their final moult to juvenile crabs. Read more about the Green Crab........
 
This crab really was a beauty - seen in July at Traigh Mhor - Tolsta.
         
crab seen at Tolsta Beach - Western Isles   crab seen at Tolsta Beach - Western Isles    
Crab - Tolsta
  
Crab - Traigh Mhor
   
Another crab which we saw June2010 at Tolsta beach - Isle of Lewis - Western isles
 
Another different type of crab which we saw July 2009 at Traigh Mhor - Tolsta - Western isles
   
         
Crustacea
Crabs belong to a group of animals known as the Crustacea. The soft body is protected by a hard outside shell known. Unfortunately, this hard shell does not grow.

Soft Shell Grows
A soft shell grows inside the crab. Eventually, the crab grows too big and it has to shed its old hard shell. This shedding of this shell or 'moulting' is a very dangerous time for the crab. The new shell is larger than the old one, but it is soft and takes time to harden. While it is soft, the crab tries to stay hidden so that it is not attacked by hungry fish and other animals.

Grows Back Lost Claws
During the moult, the crab can grow back a lost claw, but it will be smaller than the one that was broken off. The old discarded shell looks like a dead crab, but if you look closely you will find there are holes where the

Crabs carry their eggs on Their Undersides
Female crabs often carry a clump of eggs on the underside of their body. They are cared for for several months before the eggs hatch into tiny swimming crab larvae which are released into the sea. The larvae join the plankton (lots of small plants and animals that live and grow in the top waters of the sea).

Larvae Turn into Crabs
After a few months, the larvae that have survived fall to sea bottom and turn into tiny adult crabs. In the summer hundreds can be found on rocky shores.

Crabs for Food
Crabs give us great nutritional benefits.

Prey for Many Fish and Mammals
Crabs are a popular prey for many birds, fish, and mammals.

CRUSTACEANS OF THE WESTERN ISLES