Crustaceans Feel Pain

Giving new meaning to the word “crabby,” scientists at Queen’s University in Belfast have been experimenting with hermit crabs’ response to pain. It has been widely believed that crustaceans can’t feel pain in the same way other animals experience the sensation, but this study has scientists convinced that’s not the case. Not only do crabs try to remove themselves from painful situations, but they also appear to retain memories of them. There are currently very few laws protecting the rights of crustaceans, which is why boiling them alive is a common practice. The scientists involved in this study are hoping they can use the results to encourage more humane treatment of our hard-shelled friends.