The Crab Who Wears Mittens: the Chinese Mitten Crab!

Habitat: native in the coastal estuaries of eastern Asia from Korea in the north to the Fujian province of China in the south. It has also been introduced to Europe and North America where it is considered an invasive species

Status: No Conservation Concerns

At about the size of a human palm, the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) gets its name from the dense patches of dark hair on its claws that make it look like it’s wearing mittens!

These weird crabs aren’t prized for their stylish appearance, though. They’re actually considered a delicacy in Shanghai cuisine – the female roe in particular is highly coveted. Recently, China introduced vending machines to sell this species of crab in the subways.The crabs are stored at 5 °C (41 °F), which induces a sleepy state of hibernation. The prices of the crabs range from around $1.50 to $7.00 (USD). They are guaranteed to be fresh and alive. Poor mitten crabs 🙁

Mitt Romney should have used this guy as his mascot during the Presidential election. I would have foreseen a better outcome for him if that were the case.