Crabby Quiz
Sure, crab is tasty, but do you know anything about these clawed crustaceans? Test your knowledge of all things crabby.
How many legs does a crab have?
6
8
10
12
A crab has five pairs of legs. The first pair ends in a set of claws and the last pair is used for mating or swimming. The middle three pairs are used for walking.
In addition to king crab, what other types of crab are fished around Alaska?
Opilio
Tanner
Dungeness
All of the above
Several types of crab are fished off Alaskan shores, including opilio, tanner and Dungeness crabs.
Opilio crab are also known as:
king crab
snow crab
blue crab
all of the above
Opilio crab are the smallest of the four species of snow crab.
How much did the largest king crab on record weigh?
6 pounds
12 pounds
24 pounds
48 pounds
The largest king crab on record was an adult male weighing 24 pounds and measuring nearly 5 feet across (including legs). It was estimated to be 20-30 years old.
The scientific (Latin) name for opilio crab is "Chionoecetes opilio". "Chionoecetes" means "snow-dweller." What does "opilio" mean?
spider
shepherd
queen
crab
"Opilio" means "shepherd" in Latin. At one time, shepherds would walk on stilts to keep watch over their flock, giving them the appearance of having very long legs, much like this species of snow crab.
In order to grow, a crab must shed its shell and grow a new one.
True
False
A crab's exoskeleton, or shell, does not grow with the crab, so it must molt, or shed its shell, about 15-20 times during its lifetime in order to grow. When it is ready to molt, the crab absorbs seawater until the shell cracks open, and then carefully backs out, often leaving a few body parts behind. The crab secretes calcium to create a new shell, which hardens over a few weeks.
How many species of king crab are fished near Alaska?
1
2
3
4
There are three species of king crab that are commercially fished: red, blue and golden (or brown). Red king crab are the largest and most sought-after species for commercial fishing. A fourth species, the scarlet king crab, is too small and rare to have much commercial value.
How do you tell the difference between opilio and tanner crabs?
Opilio have a lighter shell and bigger claws.
Opilio have blue eyes; tanner have brown eyes and shorter legs.
Opilio have red eyes and a V-shaped mouth; tanner have green eyes and a straight mouth.
You can't. They are different names for the same species.
Opilio crab have red eyes and a V-shaped mouth, while tanner crab have green eyes and a straight mouth.
When a crab loses a leg to a predator or injury, it can grow a new one.
True
False
When a crab loses a leg, it will gradually regrow a new one as it molts. It generally takes about three molts for the new leg to grow back to its normal size.
How far do king crabs migrate every year?
Up to 100 miles
100-500 miles
Over 500 miles
They don't migrate.
Adult male king crabs have been known to migrate up to 100 miles round-trip annually, and can cover a mile per day. They travel to deeper waters to feed in the fall and back to shallow waters to mate and molt in the spring.
Your Score!
Claws, but no cigar. Maybe you're more of a lobster person ...
Your Score!
Not too crabby! You deserve a crab cake.
Your Score!
Crabtastic! You sure know your crustaceans.
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