Young blue crabs hide in the shallows to avoid being eaten by cannibal cousins

A basket of blue crabs caught during a survey by the Smithsonian Environmental Resarch Center. (Smithsonian ERC via SWNS)

By Stephen Beech

Young blue crabs hide in the shallows to avoid being eaten by their cannibal cousins, reveals new research.

Young blue crabs hide in the shallows to avoid being eaten by cannibal cousins

Tuck Hines, lead author of the study and director emeritus of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, measures a blue crab on a survey. (Smithsonian ERC via SWNS)

Young blue crabs hide in the shallows to avoid being eaten by cannibal cousins

An adult male blue crab attempts to cannibalize a smaller blue crab on a tether. (Smithsonian ERC via SWNS)

Young blue crabs hide in the shallows to avoid being eaten by cannibal cousins

Scientists Eric Johnson (left) and Rob Aguilar pull in a net during a survey for fish, crabs and other aquatic life. (Smithsonian ERC via SWNS)

Young blue crabs hide in the shallows to avoid being eaten by cannibal cousins

An adult male blue crab attempts to cannibalize a smaller blue crab on a tether. (Smithsonian ERC via SWNS)

Originally published on talker.news, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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