Clawing taste buds By Enid Donaldson-Mignotte, Contributor IN WESTMORELAND, crab lovers usually go out on May 23 to catch crabs, not so much for the quantity but for a night of fun. Any crustacean of the order Decapoda distinguished by the short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen which is curled up beneath the body and fits into a groove or depression under the thorax and the short antennae, is called a crab. However, there are several types of crabs. Crabs can walk on land in any direction without turning, they usually walk sideways. The majority are marine but some spend most of their lives on land and a few habitually climb trees. In Jamaica, crabs usually have a large and small claw, but there is a left hand crab, very versatile, with two small claws. The crab can bite by turning its claw around, however, it releases the victim when the eye is squeezed. CRABBY FACTS Hermit Crab Hermit Crabs occupy the empty shells of gastropods e.g. snails and slugs. They are mainly marine but some species in tropical regions are land crabs. Purse Crab The Purse Crab is a large land crab of Ceylon, Mauritius and other tropical islands of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. It's related to the Hermit Crab, but has a broad symmetrical abdomen. It lives in the ground and feeds on fruits, especially coconuts. Purse crabs weigh about 9 kg (20 lbs). King Crab The King Crab or horseshoe crab constitutes a separate order or class. The true crabs have the antennae pair of limbs modified into large pincers. In others (the swimming crabs), the posterior pair takes the form of paddles. Queen Crab The Queen Crab is a sea crab which is orange. Many crab eaters prefer the delicate flavour of this very rare crab. Black Crab The Rock Crab which is dark purple in colour is better known as the Black Crab. Land Crab Land Crab from the wetlands, Salt Island and the Port Henderson marshes when it rains, can also be found in places like Barnswell Beach when flooded. CRAB NOTES Historically, people in the Oracabessa area of St. Mary do not catch a black crab when it's crossing the road on its way to the sea. They also allow the crab to wash the eggs off which they do while heading towards land from the sea. Crabs should be freed during the spawning season. To tell the difference between male and female, examine the apron a band which comes underneath both male and female crabs. The apron of the female is broad and the male is narrow. Happy hunting! REMEMBER Crabs, when purchased alive, should be vigorous and lively. Drop live crabs one at a time, head first into boiling, salted water enough to cover them.
Reheat water to boiling after adding each crab. Cook 20 to 25 minutes, drain and rinse. Break off claws.
Remove the hard top shell working from tail end. Discard the spongy fibre and apron.
Crack claws with a nut cracker.
Remove meat discarding all bony spines.
Crab meat may be used in most recipes instead of lobster (in recipes calling for lobster).
Wash crabs and use at once.
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