PINCER POWER!
Marine experts at a Cornish aquarium are having to handle their newest arrival with special care because she has an extra set of pincers!
Staff at Newquay
As well as a normal pair of fully functional pincers, the 20cm long edible crab also has a third set growing above her right claw.
Curator Matt Slater said: "It's rare to find crustaceans with extra claws and I can only suppose that it must have been caused by some kind of mutation.
"Crabs, like other crustaceans, are capable of re-growing limbs and claws if they lose or damage them in a fight.
"The most likely cause is that somehow Claudette's ability to re-generate lost limbs has got confused and, rather than replacing a missing set of claws, she's actually ended up growing an extra pair instead.
"It's very lucky the fisherman realised just how unusual Claudette was and brought her in to us - otherwise I suppose she would have been heading for the pot," added Matt.
The edible crab is the largest of the crab species commonly found around the British Isles.
Large specimens can weigh over ten pounds and live to thirty years or more. They can reach sizes of up to 30 centimetres and sport huge black-tipped claws, which they use to catch and eat their prey.
"It's a good job Claudette is such a docile crab otherwise we'd all have to be on the lookout when it comes to feeding time," added Matt.
Claudette is now settling into a special new display at the aquarium where she's already proving to be a real 'claws celebre' with visitors.
