Ecology
Photographed in November 2005, this reed bed on the southern bank of Chiswick Eyot in the River Thames, London, is peppered with probable mitten crab burrows. The remnants of the collapsing bank can be seen on the beach in the foreground.
Habitat
Mitten crabs spend most of their lives in freshwater. Although they burrow in mud, mitten crabs seem to occur over many different types of river bottom. Mitten crabs certainly burrow into intertidal mud banks.
Unprotected mud banks collapse when crab burrows are numerous.
Feeding
Mitten crabs are opportunistic, indiscriminate omnivores. They appear to be able to consume a wide range of aquatic plants, invertebrates and fish.