Why do “Things”

keep evolving
in CRABS?
-By Debopam Paul
 Our story begins with…
THE DECAPODS
• Includes a vast array of creatures such as Lobsters, Crabs, Shrimps etc.
• Date back to the late Devonian period, around 365 mya.
• Palaeopalaemon , is one of the oldest
decapods.
• Around 260 mya decapods split into two
groups.
 Decapoda

Anomurans Brachyurans
(False Crabs) (True Crabs)
Oldest known Anomuran Oldest known Brachyuran

Platykotta Eosprosopon
• It was observed that in both the groups , crustaceans started out with
a body plan similar to that of a modern lobster.
• Eventually over millions of years of evolution, these organisms
evolved into the small round crab like shape seen today.
• It was first observed and described by an English zoologist named
Lancelot Alexander Borradaile. He also called this phenomenon as
carcinization.
• Borradaile hypothesized that the lobster like ancestor gradually
shortened the tail called a pleon by tucking it inside the body.

• On the other hand the carapace grew wider and flatter.

• Thus eventually these organisms developed into a shape that we

today recognize as the “crab”.
• Fossil record studies of crustaceans show that there was an explosion
of crab shaped crustaceans during the Cretaceous Period. Scientists
also call this period the “Cretaceous Crab Revolution”.
• Almost 80% of present day true crab species are said to have
originated during this period, with a major portion of crustaceans
with long abdomen also shifting to the crab shape.

So why exactly does this happen…..?

 However…..
• Scientists have come up with several reasons to explain this
phenomenon which is one of the most fascinating examples of
convergent evolution.
• Carcinization allowed survival in more diverse habitats. The crab
shaped creature exploited more habitats than their lobster shaped
counterparts.
• The crab shape allows for greater mobility, allowing them to walk,
burrow, swim and run more efficiently.
• Another possible reason could be to avoid predators, as it provides
them a lesser surface area to grab them.
• As result this shape was selected for over time and a lot of elongated
crustaceans evolved into crabs, even though they aren’t true crabs.
• Examples include Hermit crabs, Porcelin crabs and the Coconut crabs
etc.
• There have also been instances where crustaceans lost their crab like
shape. This is called decarcinization.
• An example includes Callichimaera perplexa, a fossilized true crab.
Thank You