Why do crabs walk sideways? Scientists trace it back 200 million years
Key takeaways
- Scientists have uncovered new clues about how crabs developed their distinctive sideways movement.
- Sideways walking is a hallmark of 'true crabs' (Brachyura), the largest group among crab decapods.
- "Despite the rich information available on true crabs, data concerning their locomotor behaviors are sparse.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
Scientists have uncovered new clues about how crabs developed their distinctive sideways movement.
A new study, released as a Reviewed Preprint in e Life, brings together the largest dataset yet on how crabs move. By comparing many species, the researchers traced this unusual walking style back to a shared ancestor that lived roughly 200 million years ago. Editors at e Life describe the findings as valuable and supported by largely convincing evidence, with broad relevance for scientists studying how animals move.
Sideways walking is a hallmark of 'true crabs' (Brachyura), the largest group among crab decapods. This unusual way of moving may offer important advantages. For example, it can help crabs escape predators by making their direction harder to predict.