Elbow Crab

Image: Smithsonian Institution

The crab with elbows!

BIG, pointy elbows!

Image: Chaloklum Diving

Elbow Crabs are a whole bunch of crabs in the Parthenopidae family.

Parthenopids are found all over the world but only some of them have the kind of pincers that provide the mightiest of elbows.

Video: Underwater Video JP

Some Elbows Crabs have arms that are each more than twice as long as the rest of their body! They're frequently encrusted with all sorts of fluffy bits and bob which provide effective camouflage. They might even be covered in vicious-looking spikes, which provide effective karate chops.

If you approach an Elbow Crab and he doesn't like the look of you, he'll open his arms to the full extent and threaten you with bestial hugs.

Image: Chaloklum Diving

It's an impressive display from certain angles but Elbow Crabs are so narrow that should you rise above it, they almost disappear entirely!