Similar Species:
The Chinese Mitten Crab - Note the large furry claws, round carapace, and notch between the eyes.
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| Spider Crab – Mitten crabs are much smaller and have very thick front claw with fur and no large teeth on the front of the carapace like the Spider Crab does. | Blue Crabs are the most common crabs on the East Coast. They have a very different look than the mitten crabs; they have a pointed carapace and lobed back feet used for swimming. |
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| European Green Crab – These are common on the East Coast, they look similar but their carapace is more like a triangle rather than round like the mitten crabs. Also Green crabs have no central notch and no fur on their claws. | Shore Crabs – There are a few species of shore crabs on the East Coast. These crabs are small even as adults and have a square carapace and no fur on the claws. These crabs live under rocks along the shore. |