Aggressive crab species found in Southern Hungary

A crab species not indigenous to Hungary and much larger than normal river crabs has been found by fishermen in the Danube near Mohács, writes bama.hu.

The specimen turned out to be a Chinese Mitten Crab, an aggressive, migrating species of crab native to East Asia. This species is invasive and destructive: it wounds fish, eats their spawn and even damages the dikes. The crab, bred in China for food, arrived to Hungary probably via Germany and the Danube.

This is not the first Chinese Mitten Crab found in Hungary, meaning that in all likelihood there are more of them. The crabs can live in rivers, but are only capable of reproducing in salty water. But since they are able to swim three kilometers daily, they can reach the mouth of the river and travel back, thus meaning that they can establish themselves here. The effect this would have on the area cannot be predicted.

Another Asian species was found in the Danube in May: a species of clam which has spread rapidly due to its high tolerance, short lifespan and quick reproduction.

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