Claw blimey says Newquay Sea Life Centre staff (From This is The West Country)

Claw blimey says Newquay Sea Life Centre staff

11:04am Monday 27th July 2009 in Cornwall By Stephen Ivall

Marine experts at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay are having to handle their newest arrival Edina the edible crab with special care because she has a bizarre three-pincered claw.

Staff at the aquarium were intrigued when Mylor fisherman Ned Bailey brought the mutant crab in after hauling it up in one of his pots over the weekend.

As well as a normal pair of fully functional pincers 15 cm long Edina also has an extra appendage growing on her left claw.

Blue Reef curator Matt Slater said: “It’s certainly unusual, the mutation is usually caused when the crab has moulted and the body is soft. “Crabs, like other crustaceans, are capable of re-growing limbs and claws if they lose or damage them in a fight so Edina’s ability to re-generate has got confused and, rather than just replacing a missing set of claws, she’s actually ended up growing an extra part instead.

“We are unsure whether Edina can use this extra section of her claw but knowing how powerful edible crab claws can be we are making sure we don’t find out the painful way.

“It’s very lucky the fisherman realised just how unusual Edina was and brought her in to us - otherwise I suppose she would have been heading for the pot,” added Matt.

The edible crab is the largest of the crab species commonly found around the British Isles. It has characteristic large black tipped claws and a ‘pie-crust’ edge to the shell which make it easily identifiable. Males can weigh up to three kilogrammes.

They are generally nocturnal, scavenging and foraging for food under the cover of darkness and adults are found down to around 100m depth. Edina is now settling into a special new display at the aquarium where she’s already proving to be a real ’claws celebre’ with visitors.

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