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Mutant crab with three claws caught by fishermen off UK coast - The Daily Record
6 April 2011

A MUTANT three-clawed crab has been hauled up in a fisherman's lobster pot.

The sea monster, which has an extra set of pincers growing from beneath its shell, was caught off the coast of Northumberland.

Amble fisherman Jeff Handyside donated the eight-inch edible crab to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, where staff have nicknamed him Claude.

Blue Reef's Anna Etchells said: "It's rare to find crustaceans with extra claws. Very little research work has been done on this so no-one really knows why this sometimes happens, it could be due to environmental factors or be a genetic mutation.

"Crabs, like other crustaceans, are capable of re-growing limbs and claws if they lose or damage them in a fight.

"It is also possible that somehow Claude's ability to regenerate lost limbs has got confused and, rather than replacing a missing set of claws, he's actually ended up growing an extra pair instead.

"Although the extra claws look impressive they can't actually function so he's no more dangerous to handle than any other crab.

"Except for the extra pincers he's in excellent condition and they clearly haven't prevented him from hunting and scavenging successfully."

The edible crab is the largest of the crab species commonly found around the British Isles.

It has characteristic large black-tipped claws and a pie-crust edge to the shell which make it easily identifiable.

Males can weigh up to three kilogrammes.

Bizarrely, a mutant lobster, which also had an extra claw was caught in the same area by Mr Handyside's brother last year.
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photo on link. Slightly different article with a different photo here Blue Reef Aquarium - the ultimate undersea family day out - Newquay, Southsea in Portsmouth and Tynemouth (Newcastle Upon Tyne)
 
I have made a visit to the Blue Reef Aquarium recently, nice to see the four common seals in their outdoor pool as it also gives the visitor the opportunity to see animals outside of this "tardis"like building, the Asian short clawed otters are housed inside the building in an enclosure which is of equal standard to any other in a reputable zoo, just a thought, would it not be better if the otters were also housed outside like the seals?, Pygmy marmosets and cotton top tamarins are now being displayed here, again in enclosures which would be the norm in a reputable zoo, but again no outdoor facilities, is this situation for the otters and the primates ideal?, As I have previously mentioned the North East hasn't exactly been well served with zoological collections over the years, apart from my own personal reservations about certain animals being housed here permanently indoors I would describe the visit as a pleasurable experience,it was spotlessly clean throughout, well labelled and £8.30 a reasonable admission price, perhaps the Blue Reef Aquarium Tynemouth is certainly serving the people of the North East with a good zoological visit, albeit in a small way, far better than the excuses we have had in the past where lions and tigers were kept in cages no bigger than circus beast wagons or indeed establishments keeping exotic species while not even zoo licenced.
 
Devilfish and I visited the aquarium in Newquay yesterday and I think we both enjoyed the visit considerably. It's not the largest public aquarium in the UK, but all the tanks seemed very well maintained, the stock looked to be in very good condition and the staff were friendly and obliging. The collection includes some interesting and unusual species, I was particularly pleased to see an Australian arowana (in a pool with two Cuvier's dwarf caiman and many South American fishes), a small but active mantis shrimp, a decorator crab, two garden eels, some lovely zebra gobies (which were displaying to each other in pairs) and two impressive stonefishes.
A visit to the aquarium, combined with a visit to Newquay Zoo, made a very pleasant outing for two zoo geeks. Photos to follow.
 
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