May 17th , 2024
TEAM LTG
Do you think crabs are just for seafood boils? Evolution has another idea. They keep popping up in unexpected places!
It's not a disease! It's the term for when non-crab creatures evolve into crab-like forms.
Scientists are still figuring it out, but the flat, wide-body plan might offer protection and flexibility.
It's happened at least FIVE times independently in different crustacean lineages. It's like nature keeps hitting the "make crab" button.
Hermit crabs, king crabs, and even some lobsters have evolved from less-crabby ancestors.
There are "true crabs" and "fake crabs" (carcinized), but both rock the iconic look.
Crabs are diverse and abundant. This shape works, though the 'why' is still debated.
There's even a tongue-in-cheek term: "Everything eventually becomes a crab." Are we next? (Probably not...but it's fun to think about!)