What Type of Crab is Mr. Krabs from SpongeBob SquarePants?

Mr. Krabs, the penny-pinching owner of the Krusty Krab restaurant in SpongeBob SquarePants, is one of the most iconic characters from the long-running Nickelodeon animated series. With his large claws, red shell, sailor cap and distinctive pirate-like voice, Mr. Krabs is instantly recognizable to fans of the show. But what kind of crab is Mr. Krabs actually supposed to be? Let’s break down the possible theories and evidence from the show to solve this crustacean mystery.

The Case for the Red King Crab

The most commonly accepted theory is that Mr, Krabs is a stylized version of a Red King Crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), Several key pieces of evidence support this conclusion

• Appearance: Mr. Krabs has a large red shell and prominent claws like a Red King Crab. His general size, shape and coloring closely match this species.

• Habitat: While Bikini Bottom is fictional, the show is implied to take place in a Pacific Ocean setting where Red King Crabs can be found.

• Economic Value: Red King Crabs are commercially fished for their meat. Mr. Krabs’ obsession with money and operating a successful restaurant may be a humorous reference to the real-world demand for King Crabs.

• Anatomy: Mr. Krabs has eight walking legs plus two claws, matching the ten appendages of true crabs. The show simplifies his design, but the basic anatomy is there.

• Creator Confirmation SpongeBob’s creator, marine biologist Stephen Hillenburg modeled Mr. Krabs after a former crab-fishing boss. This suggests he had the Red King Crab’s appearance in mind.

Addressing Some Common Counter-Theories

While the preponderance of evidence favors Mr Krabs being a Red King Crab, some fans have speculated he could be other crab species based on inconsistencies in his portrayal But these theories have flaws

• Coconut Crab? They have a reddish color but are land-based and lack Mr. Krabs’ crab anatomy. Coconut crabs also inhabit tropical climates, not the implied Pacific setting of Bikini Bottom.

• Horseshoe Crab? While they inhabit oceans, horseshoe crabs are not true crabs biologically and look very different from Mr. Krabs.

• Dungeness Crab? Dungeness crabs share some physical similarities but are smaller than Red King Crabs and have a more limited range.

• Fiddler Crab? While small like Mr. Krabs, fiddler crabs are found on beaches, not the ocean floor, and lack his pronounced claws.

So while none of these crab types are a perfect match, Red King Crab remains the most likely inspiration for Mr. Krabs when considering the preponderance of evidence.

Why Mr. Krabs Doesn’t Match Real Red King Crabs

Mr. Krabs exhibits some un-crab-like traits which differentiate him from actual Red King Crabs:

• Exaggerated Size: At 3-4 feet tall, he’s human-sized compared to real 11-inch crabs. But extreme size changes are common in cartoons.

• Unnatural Colors: His shell randomly changes from red to pinkish-orange between episodes, unlike real crabs which stay a consistent hue.

• Non-Crab Features: Traits like Mr. Krabs’ eyebrows and ability to walk upright are humanlike liberties taken by the show’s animators.

• Inconsistent Legs: Real crabs have small fifth legs tucked under their shell, but the show omits them on Mr. Krabs.

• Unnatural Speech: Obviously real crabs can’t talk, but neither can any other SpongeBob character. Mr. Krabs’ speaking doesn’t change his underlying crab design.

So while Mr. Krabs deviates from actual crab biology in many ways, these are intentional cartoon abstractions. The show takes broad creative license with all its characters. Ultimately his core crab-like form and backstory strongly imply that a Red King Crab was the inspiration for his basic design, if not his behavior and abilities.

Given the preponderance of anatomical clues, creator statements and character background context, the Red King Crab provides the most plausible species identification for Mr. Krabs within the reality of the show. Arguments for other crab types rely on isolated details while ignoring key evidence to the contrary. Unless new information surfaces to challenge the prevailing theory, the character’s crustacean identity as a highly stylized Red King Crab seems most likely to reflect the original artistic intent. So while SpongeBob’s world is full of impossible creatures, the show does seem to ground Mr. Krabs in a real crab species, albeit in an exaggerated and anthropomorphic way.