14 DAY TRIAL // A fisherman in the UK has recently caught a mutant crab that sports not two, but three pincers on its right claw. Because of its peculiar appearance, some say that the crab resembles Yoda.
Researchers who have had the chance to examine the crustacean admit that, for the time being, they are unable to say how and why this animal ended up displaying this peculiar mutation.
They say that, all things considered, its third pincer could be due to either genetics, or environmental factors, Daily Mail reports.
“It’s relatively unusual to come across crustaceans with extra claws. No-one really knows why this sometimes happens, it could be due to environmental factors or be a genetic mutation,” specialist Jenni Smith told the press.
“Crabs, like other crustaceans, are capable of re-growing limbs and claws if they lose or damage them in a fight. Perhaps this particular crab’s ability to re-generate lost limbs has got confused and, rather than replacing a missing set of claws, it’s actually ended up growing an extra pair instead,” she added.
The crab is presently living at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Cornwall.