Carcinus maenas


Carcinus maenas

[¦kär·sən·əs ′mī·nəs] (invertebrate zoology) A decapod crustacean commonly found on the coasts of northwest Europe and the northeast United States that feeds on invertebrates such as mollusks, polychaete worms, and other crustaceans, and periodically sheds its exoskeleton in order to grow. Also known as shore crab.