What ocean animals eat crab?

Many ocean animals enjoy a tasty crab meal! Here are some examples:

Fish:

* Grouper: These large fish are known to prey on crabs, especially larger species like stone crabs.

* Snapper: Similar to groupers, snapper also hunt crabs, using their powerful jaws to crack open the hard shells.

* Cod: This popular food fish is a generalist predator and will happily eat crabs when available.

* Sea Bass: Another fish with a varied diet, sea bass can be found feasting on crabs, especially the younger, smaller ones.

Mammals:

* Seals: These marine mammals are opportunistic feeders and will include crabs in their diet.

* Sea Otters: These adorable creatures are known to use rocks to crack open crabs and are considered a keystone species in their ecosystems.

* Whales: While not a primary food source for most whales, some species like the gray whale will occasionally consume crabs, particularly when foraging in shallow waters.

Other Invertebrates:

* Starfish: Some starfish species, like the sunflower starfish, are specialized crab predators and use their suction cups to pry open the shells.

* Octopus: These intelligent cephalopods are skilled at using their tentacles to pry open crab shells and extract the meat.

* Birds: Seabirds like gulls and oystercatchers will scavenge for crabs on the shore or even dive underwater for them.

This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other ocean animals that include crabs in their diet, depending on their size, location, and hunting strategy.