The Origins of 10 Crab Pokemon & the Real Animals Behind Them

Several crab Pokemon are not true crabs. Two of the 10 have the word in their category. The rest borrow from crayfish and hermit crabs, and Parasect starts from a cicada nymph. All 10 share the Armor body shape, so the claw and the shell do most of the work whatever the animal underneath.

See all 10 crab Pokemon in one list.

Here's every crab Pokemon:

All 10 Crab Pokemon

#047

Parasect

Parasect, the Mushroom Pokemon, resembles a cicada nymph first, but it may also be based on an umbrella crab, with a mushroom for a shell. In concept it may come from ants infected by mushroom spores that take control of the host's brain. The fungus on its back is identified as tochukaso, the Japanese name of Ophiocordyceps sinensis, a parasite that replaces its host's tissue.

Specimens that lack the mushroom lie unmoving in the forest, which supports the idea that the mushroom controls Parasect's actions. (We have mornings like that, with coffee in place of the mushroom.)

#098

Krabby

Krabby, the River Crab Pokemon, is based on a crab, possibly the samurai crab or the sand bubbler crab. It weighs 6.5 kg in total.

If it senses danger approaching, it cloaks itself in bubbles from its mouth to look bigger, which is how we puff up our CV. Its Hyper Cutter ability stops other Pokemon from lowering its Attack, and its Shell Armor protects it from critical hits (a critical hit is a lucky blow that deals extra damage). An ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle.

#099

Kingler

Kingler, the Pincer Pokemon, is close to a fiddler crab or a land crab of the genus Cardisoma, which usually have one claw larger than the other. Its crown of spikes and its name may allude to the king crab. Its Gigantamax form, a giant form from the Galar region, may be based on Japanese spider crabs, and its bubble beard may reference how crabs blow bubbles to keep oxygen flowing to their gills out of the water.

Its oversized claw is very powerful, but gets in the way when it is not in battle. We own several tools that are great at one thing and awkward at everything else. Its hidden ability, Sheer Force (a hidden ability is a rarer ability that only some of a species have), makes moves with extra effects 1.3× stronger but removes the extra effects.

#341

Corphish

Corphish, the Ruffian Pokemon, may be based on the red swamp crayfish, which comes from the southern United States and northern Mexico and, like Corphish, is an invasive pest in many countries. It can learn Dragon Dance, which may come from the Chinese word for lobster, 龙虾 Lóngxiā, meaning dragon shrimp.

It was originally a Pokemon from afar that escaped into the wild, and it can adapt to the dirtiest river. We have a cactus that thrives on neglect in the same way. Its hidden ability, Adaptability, raises the bonus its Water moves get from 1.5× to 2×.

#342

Crawdaunt

Crawdaunt, the Rogue Pokemon, has the name and look of a red swamp crayfish, but its size makes it closer to a lobster. The stars and stripes on its body may be a military motif, like the insignia that show enlisted ranks. Its shell may be a case of Batesian mimicry, since it resembles an open shark mouth, much like Sharpedo, with the star on its head as a starfish.

It is a brutish Pokemon that loves to battle and crashes itself into any foe that approaches its nest. We have neighbors like this about parking.

#557

Dwebble

Dwebble, the Rock Inn Pokemon, is based on a hermit crab that lives in a hollowed-out rock in place of a discarded seashell.

It first tries to find a rock to live in, and if none are suitable, it may move into the ports of a Hippowdon. We have seen worse rental listings than a hippo. It stands 0.3 m tall. Its Sturdy ability lets it survive any hit from full HP with 1 HP left, and Dwebble evolves into Crustle at level 34.

#558

Crustle

Crustle, the Stone Home Pokemon, is based on a hermit crab, like Dwebble before it. Its shell looks more like a block of stratum, a layer of rock, than an actual shell, though the design also seems to resemble the ornately colored shells some hermit crabs carry.

Its thick claws are its greatest weapons, mighty enough to crack Rhyperior's carapace. (A hermit crab that carries a cliff around puts our struggles with a backpack in context.) It weighs 200 kg in total. It keeps Dwebble's Sturdy and Shell Armor abilities, and its hidden ability, Weak Armor, lowers its Defense but raises its Speed one stage each time a physical move hits it.

#739

Crabrawler

Crabrawler, the Boxing Pokemon, has a tail tucked under a long body, which makes it closer to the Anomuran crustaceans, which are not "true" crabs. It is based on the coconut crab, a land hermit crab that climbs trees. Its claws look like boxing gloves, one eye seems swollen, and its claw colors in the normal and shiny forms may reference the red and blue corners in boxing.

It has been known to mistake Exeggutor for a coconut tree and climb it, and the angry Exeggutor shakes it off and stomps it. We have made the same wrong-tree mistake at parties. Its Iron Fist ability makes punching moves 1.2× stronger.

#740

Crabominable

Crabominable, the Woolly Crab Pokemon, may take its look from yeti crabs, deep-sea crustaceans whose long arms are covered in thick white hair. Living on mountains and leaving prints in the snow are traits of the mythical yeti. Its shiny form turns its blue parts red, which likely refers to boiled crab, and the prints on its claws may reference brass knuckles.

Mount Lanakila, where Crabrawler evolves, is both Alola's Victory Road and its highest point, which turns a boxer fighting to reach the top into a literal climb. It starts pummeling before it stops to think, and there are records of it turning back avalanches with a flurry of punches. We could not stop a slow door, let alone an avalanche. It stands 1.7 m tall.

#950

Klawf

Klawf, the Ambush Pokemon, is based on crabs with hair-like bristles, such as the horsehair crab, the velvet crab of the Mediterranean Sea, the Chinese mitten crab, an invasive species in Europe, or the hairy stone crab. It may also take inspiration from rock climbing, and its shiny form may come from blue crabs such as Callinectes sapidus.

It lives on sheer cliffs, sidesteps its opponents' attacks, then lunges for their weak spots with its claws. We respect a plan that starts with a sideways dodge. Its Anger Shell ability raises its Attack, Special Attack and Speed but lowers its defenses once its HP drops below half.

Six of the 10 have Hyper Cutter, which keeps their Attack from being lowered. Seven have Shell Armor, which blocks critical hits. Krabby, Kingler, Corphish and Crawdaunt have both. Kingler, Crawdaunt and Crabominable all have an Attack of 120 or more, and none of the 10 has a Speed above 75.

Crab Pokemon FAQ

How many crab Pokemon are there?

There are 10 crab Pokemon. Two have a crab word in their category, and the other eight were designed from crabs, crayfish, a lobster and a cicada nymph.

What is the strongest crab Pokemon?

Crustle has the highest base stat total of the 10 at 485, while Crabominable hits hardest, with an Attack of 132.

Is Crustle a hermit crab?

Yes. Crustle is based on a hermit crab, though its shell looks more like a block of layered rock.

What is Corphish based on?

Corphish may be based on the red swamp crayfish, though its evolution, Crawdaunt, looks more like a lobster.

Which Pokemon is a hermit crab?

Dwebble and Crustle live in rocks, and Crabrawler is based on the coconut crab, a hermit crab that climbs trees.