Crabs have powerful claws that they use for defense and hunting. But, have you ever wondered if a crab’s pincers could injure a human? So, can crabs break fingers?
Crabs can break human fingers, but this ability depends on the strength of the crab species. A smaller crabs pinch may be painful and cause bleeding but won’t be enough to break a finger. However, an enormous species like a coconut crab can instantly crush human bones.
You might be interested in learning about the coconut crab’s capability to break bones. If you would like to find out more, keep on reading.
Our guide will share all the facts and information about how crabs can do this.
We’ll also talk about the strength of each crab and the different types of injury they can inflict.
Let’s dive in.
Can crabs break fingers?
The simple answer is yes; certain crabs can break fingers. Not all crabs can do so as they aren’t big and strong enough.
An example that isn’t strong enough to break your finger is a hermit crab. Depending on your pain threshold, a hermit crab can deliver a painful pinch.
Most small crab pinches can cause bruising or a break in the skin at the site of the pinch. But, a pinch from a giant crab can be more damaging.
For example, the coconut crab is a crab that has a dangerous grip that is up to 10 times stronger than humans. Their claws are adapted to crush coconuts, which is why they are called coconut crabs.
They are the second largest crab species after the Japanese spider crab. They can hold the weight of a small human child, which weighs 62lbs.
A coconut crab that weighs around 9lbs can deliver an intense pinch. Their clamps can provide a force of 3,000 newtons, enough to break a human bone.
Again, the pinching force of a crab varies from species to species. A blue crab’s pinch can smash a snail’s shell but cause lesser damage to a human than a coconut crab.
The smallest crab is the pea crab, a parasite that lives in mussels and oysters. If you were in contact with a pea crab, you wouldn’t be able to feel its pinch at all.
Can crabs cut off fingers?
As we have already gone over, crabs can give humans some pretty nasty injuries. So, you might be thinking can they cut off a finger?
The good thing is that crabs can’t cut through all the layers of skin, ligaments, tendons, and bone. But, they can give bad cuts and lacerations if they feel threatened.
Crabs are fragile creatures, even the larger ones too. Although their pincers can have a lot of force when they pinch you, they don’t have enough strength in their arms.
This means that a crab’s arms aren’t powerful enough to cut through a human finger because it doesn’t have enough force. Behind their claws, there isn’t a lot of mass.
Their skeleton provides the crabs with protection, not strength. This is why they don’t have any force in their arms because there is not much mass.
Most crabs eat algae and smaller crustaceans, so they don’t require much strength for hunting. Their shells are often enough to deter predators, so they don’t need to fight back.
They would only use their arms in fear, most likely because of an attack from a human. If you avoid startling crabs, then there’s a good chance they won’t cut you.
Do crabs bite?
Now that we know they have powerful pincers for pinching, do they have strong teeth for biting? Well, you may be surprised to find out this answer.
Crabs don’t have teeth like ours, meaning they can’t bite you properly. This is similar to lobsters, who also don’t have teeth but have strong claws.
Instead, they have soft structures in their mouths that aids the movement of food into their systems. Other species have much harder structures, but they have the same purpose.
They will attack you with their claws, not their mouths if needed. They might attempt to bite you if they believe you are food, but there aren’t any reports of this as crabs eat smaller animals.
Crabs also have teeth, but not where you would expect. They have teeth in their stomach, which is how they chew food.
Again, lobsters also have this unique feature too. These teeth also make a sound in ghost crabs that get rid of predators.
Crabs also have structures of the shells called teeth, but they are not used for biting. Instead, they are often used to identify the species of crab.
Besides, crabs don’t have jaws like humans. This means that they can’t move their teeth and mouth to bite you in the first place.
Crabs have maxillipeds which help the crab move food into its mouth. Their teeth also don’t grind and move like ours, so if your finger is in a crab mouth, it won’t bite you, and you can move it out in time.
Are crabs dangerous?
Since you have the knowledge that crabs have powerful pincers, you may consider them to be dangerous. Well, let’s find out if they are.
Crabs aren’t dangerous and will not kill you. There have been no reports of a crab killing a human.
Crabs will only attack you if you attack them first. This might mean if you have provoked them or cornered them.
Even though some crabs have a carnivorous diet, there is no need to worry. Crabs don’t eat humans and don’t go looking for humans to eat.
A crab might give you a light warning pinch when you are swimming. This is to signal that you are in its way and that you need to move.
A crab can latch on your finger after you have gone fishing for them. There are two ways you can release a crab if it’s not grabbing on too tight.
The most efficient way of removing yourself from the grip of a crab is by flicking your wrist until it lets go. It will leave you alone if you leave it alone.
Another way is to go to the ocean and wait for it to let go. The crab will let go on its own and return to the ocean.
The bottom line is crabs are not dangerous and won’t kill you. If you don’t provoke it, it will leave you alone.
Are crabs poisonous?
Some crabs can be poisonous. There are many different reasons why a crab can be poisonous.
Crabs don’t have a way of delivering poison to humans or any other animals. The only way a crab can poison you is if you eat it.
First of all, the stomach, lungs, and shell are inedible. They aren’t toxic, but they taste horrible and provide no benefits.
The crab species also play a role in what parts you can eat. In some crab species, you can’t eat the innards or claws.
For example, the Alaskan king crab only has some edible parts. You can only eat leg meat and claw meat.
Another example is the stone crab, from which you can only eat the claw meat. Once the edible parts are taken, the rest of the body will be discarded.
Preparation of the crab is also important to avoid falling ill from eating crab meat. Crabs must be boiled alive to prevent bacteria from poisoning you.
Dead crabs host a plethora of nasty bacteria that can poison you. This is why it’s best to eat freshly boiled crab.
These toxins can not only come from bacteria. A crab’s diet could make it poisonous to eat, for example, if it ate poisonous algae.
How do you hold a crab?
When holding a crab, you must ensure it doesn’t pinch you. As we have already covered, a crab’s pinch can be painful, especially if you don’t have a high pain tolerance.
The easiest way to hold a crab for beginners is by its back fin. This is the method:
- Put your thumb underneath the crab’s bottom and place it on its belly.
- Place the rest of your fingers at the top of the shell.
- Firmly grip the crab and pick it up with the claws facing outwards from you.
Make sure you aren’t squeezing it tightly when you are gripping the crab. This can alarm the crab, causing it to panic and struggle.
You should also be equipped with safety gear. Use gloves and, if you’d like, a pair of tongs.
Cover up any pre-existing wounds to avoid the transfer of bacteria. Crabs carry dangerous bacteria and cause blood poisoning, so always be careful.
Using the method above, you shouldn’t get pinched by the crab. But in case you do, here’s what you should do:
- If there is any bleeding, control it by applying pressure to the wound with a gauze or cloth.
- Clean the injury thoroughly with soap and water.
- Use an antiseptic
- If there is a cut, apply a band-aid.
In conclusion
Certain species of crabs can break fingers. Crabs like the coconut crab do this, who have strong pincers.
Although they have strong claws, they can’t cut off your finger. However, they can deliver a nasty cut.
They can’t bite you as they don’t have teeth in their mouths. Instead, they have teeth in their stomach which chews up the food.
Crabs are not dangerous and are safe when unprovoked. There aren’t any cases of a crab killing a human.
Some parts of a crab can be poisonous to eat. These toxins can occur in a crab’s body for many different reasons.
If you are holding a crab, always be careful. Use the correct method and equipment and follow any first-aid rules if necessary.
