Which Ocean Creatures Eat Crabs?

Almost 7,000 types of crab live in the ocean. They range from giant Japanese spider crab, which can grow up to 12 feet long, to the tiny pea crab which measures only about 1/4 inch long. All crab have some distinct features in common, including a tough exoskeleton and pinching claws --- and they don't have these defenses for no reason. This diverse group of animals serves as prey to many other animals in the ocean.

  1. Octopus

    • The octopus has a complicated method of getting its crab meat. Despite being a soft-bodied creature with no bones, the octopus can break through a crab's tough exterior for a meal. To kill and eat a crab, the octopus will attack it from behind so it avoids the crab's pincers and hold on to it tightly with its suckers. Next, it uses its hard beak to bite into the crab's body at the areas where the crab's exoskeleton plates meet.

      Through its bite, the octopus injects a venom that paralyzes and kills the crab and dissolves its muscles so the octopus can suck out the meat.

    Sea Otters

    • Carnivorous sea otters will eat lots of animals in the ocean, including crab. A sea otter will bring a hard-shelled crab up to the surface of the water and bang on it with a rock until the shell cracks open enough to allow the otter to eat the meat inside. After "preparing" their crab this way, the otter will usually swim on its backs and eat, using its stomach as a table.

    Sea Turtles

    • Several types of sea turtles have diets that consist largely of crab. The Kemp's ridley, olive ridley and flatback sea turtles all enjoy the crustaceans. The turtles' strong jaws allow them to break through the tough crab exoskeleton.

    Seagulls

    • Seagulls are scavengers and will eat almost anything --- this definitely includes crabs as well. The seagull's big strong beak allows it to catch and swallow small crabs whole. Seagulls will also catch small crabs on land and use their beaks to break them apart before eating them.