You Won’t Believe The Size Of This Crab

Photo credit: Express.co.uk

It’s been nicknamed “The Beast” and that’s fitting.

The new resident at the Blue Reef Aquarium was destined for the dinner table after it was brought up from the English Channel near Portsmouth in southern England.

Weighing in at an gargantuan 9 pounds, the brown crab is the largest crab Rob Davidson of the Blue Reef Aquarium had ever seen. He puts its size down to good health and its age, saying brown crabs can live up to 30 years.

Rob Davidson holding ’The Beast’ at Portsmouths Blue Reef Aquarium

‘They can actually get a tiny bit bigger than this, according to most records, but I have never seen one this large,” said Davidson.

‘He is just over half a meter from claw to claw when they are stretched out, which is impressive.’

According to The News of Portsmouth, the brown crab is the largest species of crabs in Britain.

It uses its giant claws to crush and tear its prey, which includes a variety of shellfish such as mussels.

Tests have shown crabs’ claws have the crushing strength of over 90 pounds per square inch.

An average person’s hand is only capable of squashing to 25 pounds per square inch.

‘The Beast” in currently in quarantined waiting to go to on display for aquarium visitors.

Its certainly a good reprieve from the fate he was headed to – one that likely included melted butter and a plastic bib.

Check out the full story from The News of Portsmouth.