Do you know why do crabs walk sideways?

Question

Do you know why do crabs walk sideways?

Answer 1

That is a dumb question but I think it is for defense so it can look ahead

Answer 2

no. no i dont

Answer 3

Because that's the way their legs bend. This lets them squeeze into holes and crevices to keep out of the way of fish with sharp teeth and larger crabs that might think the crab was a tasty meal....

Answer 4

Because that's the only way they can. Crab leg joints have very little movement from side to side, but more in an up and down direction, similar to if you place your hand palm down on a table and move your fingers. You can move them much more up and down than you can from side to side.



The reason that a crab's upper limbs have a limited range of movements is that they're restricted by a hard exoskeleton. A crab's exoskeleton is essential for protecting it from hungry predators.



However strange a crabs' walk may look to us, the combination of restricted leg movement with a strong exoskeleton is obviously a successful one for them to have evolved in this way.