Marine Living

The Chinese mitten crab is native to East Asia, where they are a delicacy. They have funny-looking, hairy claws which distinguish them from other crabs. Populations of this crab have invaded Europe and the United States and are causing concern due to potential ecological damage.

The Chinese mitten crab is most easily distinguished by its claws, which are white-tipped and covered in brown hair. The shell, or carapace, of this crab is up to 4 inches wide and light brown to olive green in color. They have eight legs.

Other names for this crab are the Shanghai hairy crab and big binding crab.

The Chinese mitten crab is (not surprisingly) native to China, but expanded its range during the 1900s and is now considered an invasive species in many areas.

According to the Global Invasive Species Database, the Chinese mitten crab is one of the 100 “World’s Worst” invaders. If established in an area, the crab will compete with native species, foul fishing gear and water intakes, and can intensively burrow into shorelines and increase erosion problems.

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