Green Shore Crab Carcinus maenas

The Green Shore Crab, also called Common Shore Crab, is native to shallow coastal waters of the northeastern Atlantic from Norway/Iceland to the western Sahara; in the Mediterranean it is replaced by the closely-related and similar-looking Mediterranean Shore Crab. It is present elsewhere as an invasive species (widespread). It is not always green, but can be brown, yellow or red.

It grows to 9cm across. Its carapace has 5 pointed spines each side of the eyes and 3 rounded, small arches between the eyes. It also usually has the characteristic dotted arches pattern on the top of the carapace (as does its Mediterranean relative). Males have larger claws than females. Prey is mainly bivalve molluscs but also small crustaceans and fish.