# Why do Crabs move sideways?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crabs-move-sideways/714455>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 7, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crabs-move-sideways/714455 "2015-03-07T17:33:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crabs-move-sideways/714455/1 "2015-03-07T17:33:41Z")

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Every other creature in God’s Green Earth moves forwards and backwards - even Robert De Niro (silly reference to “Mean Streets” where he tried to move like a crab).

So, why do crabs move sideways? Every time I see them flittering about, it always creeps me out!

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crabs-move-sideways/714455/2 "2015-03-07T17:43:37Z")

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Because their legs stick out sideways. Put your hand on a table and crook your fingers to pull your hand along. Now try to move your hand laterally by moving your fingers laterally. Pulling is much easier. Crabs move by, essentially, ‘crooking their fingers’.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crabs-move-sideways/714455/3 "2015-03-07T19:11:02Z")

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> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#):
>
> Every other creature in God’s Green Earth moves forwards and backwards

Sidewinder snakes?

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-crabs-move-sideways/714455/4 "2015-03-07T19:34:37Z")

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> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#):
>
> Sidewinder snakes?

There is no denying that you are keerect on that one!