Brush up on these unique crab facts that you may not have heard before!
How much do you know about Maryland’s favorite crustacean? The blue crab is a highly exciting creature as well as being incredibly delicious! Before you head to your next crab feast, give these ten fun facts a read, and then share them with your friends.
1.
All animals and creatures have a name for when they’re in a group; for the crab, this is called a cast. Normally you won’t see casts of crabs hanging out together; they are more solitary. They are most likely to form a cast during breeding times and when they’re packed in a cooler on the way to your crab fest.
2.
Have you ever noticed that crabs have ten legs, including their big claws, this is because crabs are decapods. Other decapods include the lobster and shrimp.
3.
Blue crabs have an interesting mating habit; they’ll only mate once for life! They hold on to the semen they collect from the male crabs for their entire reproductive lifespan, and every set of eggs they produce will be from that same clutch.
4.
The Latin name of the blue crab has a unique meaning. Callinectes Sapid can be translated to mean beautiful, savory swimmer, which we think is more than apt!
5.
While most Marylanders are schooled in crab identification early, knowing how to tell the gender of a crab is important while fishing. Females have a wide apron that some say resembles the capital building in shape; others refer to it as a triangle. Meanwhile, males have a narrow marking that looks more like the Washington monument.
6.
Why do blue crabs turn red when cooked? The blue color of crabs comes from a pigment found in their shells when cooked, their color breaks down, leaving an orangish shade behind.
7.
Most of the animal kingdom thinks crabs are just as tasty as we do. Some of their many predators include eels, bass, trout, and even stingray. Other fish and animals will eat them when they have the chance too.
8.
There are around 5,000 types of known crabs living right now, and there’s a chance that there are even more we have yet to discover. While we only eat a few types, we’re sure you can probably think of quite a few without looking them up.
9.
Over a fifth of all seafood consumed worldwide is made up of crabs. While blue crabs are widely popular on the east coast, a significant portion includes snow crab and king crab.
10.
Crabs make for an excellent pizza topping! Along with being great for all kinds of food, like your traditional crab cakes and crab dip, crab is excellent on all sorts of things.
It’s Always the Right Time for Box Hill
We are located in Abingdon, Maryland, and our crab cakes are available year-round! If you ever have any questions or comments about Box Hill or our Maryland crab cakes, use our contact form here.
Box Hill Crab Cakes is your source for the freshest, most authentic Maryland crab cakes—and we’ll ship them to your door! Our top-secret family recipe has been fine-tuned for decades, and we guarantee you will love them. Visit us online to place your order or give us a call at 410-515-3662. Want to get recipe ideas, updates, and information on sales? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Trip Advisor, YouTube, and Twitter.
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