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scientific diagram reading "the crab cycle there is only one step and it is crab"

Carcinization

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About

Carcinization is an example of convergent evolution involving decapod crustaceans eventually evolving into a crab-like organism. In October 2020, the term became a popular discussion over the internet, spawning many parodies of the evolution's process of turning animals into crabs.

Origin

The term "carcinization," which commonly describes morphological evolution in non-crab (Anomura) adult decapods into "false crabs," was coined and introduced to the discussion of biological evolution by English zoologist L.A. Borradaile in 1916.[1] Borradaile described that carcinization was "one of many attempts by nature to evolve a crab." The process is also known as "brachyurization."

Despite decapods of Anomura infraorder acquiring crab-like appearance during carcinization, they are not considered Brachyura (or "true crabs"), but are instead referred to as "false crabs."

Despite being in the discussion of biological evolution since the 20th century, carcinization went largely unknown to popular and internet culture prior to October 2020. On June 25th, 2019, Tumblr[2] user quasi-normalcy made the earliest viral post referencing carcinization. On August 8th, Tumblr[3] user gorjus-bacon replied to the post, with user goosegoblin posting[4] another reply on the same day (thread shown below). The thread received over 18,100 likes and reblogs in one year.


quasi-normalcy The thing with humanoid aliens is that organisms with human form have only evolved once in all the half-billion years of multicellular life on Earth, and then under some very specific circumstances. If you want something realistic, make you

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On November 8th, 2019, Redditor[5] GTSPKD shared the post on Reddit via the r/tumblr subreddit, where it gained over 1,800 upvotes in six months.

On June 1st, 2020, webcomic artist xkcd posted a comic about the phenomenon.[6] The comic (shown below) gained over 210 retweets and 1,600 likes on Twitter[7] in six months.


YEAH, THE BASIC OF "CARCINIZATION"? || "CRAB" DESIGN HAS EVOLVED SEPARATELY A NUMBER OF TIMES. HAVE YOU HEARD APPARENTLY! THE TENDENCY OF NATURE TO EVOLVE EVOLUTION JUST LOVES MAKING CRABS, I GUESS! THINGS INTO CRABS. ΟΗ ΝΟ OH?

On June 2nd, Redditor[8] Xurkitree1 posted a Team Fortress 2 meme referencing the phenomenon that gained over 1,800 upvotes in six months.

On October 13th, 2020, Twitter[9] user @cableknitjumper posted a tweet about her personal discovery of the carcinization phenomenon. The tweet gained over over 14,000 retweets and and 81,000 likes in one month.


wear a mask 000 @cableknitjumper Crustaceans have evolved into the shape of a crab at least 5 independent times. I do not like this. Carcinisation 刘 Carcinisation (or carcinization) is an example of convergent evolution in which a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab- like form. The term was introduced into evolutionary biology by L. A. Borradaile, who described it as "one of the many attempts of Nature to evolve a crab".7] Porcelain crabs resemble crabs, but are more closely related to squat lobsters and hermit crabs. 7:44 AM - Oct 13, 2020 - Twitter for Android

Following the viral tweet, carcinization became a popular subject of online discussions and memes. On October 28th, 2020, YouTube[10] channel PBS Eons posted a video about the phenomenon. The video (shown below) has accumulated over 3.2 million views as of November 14th, 2020.



Various Examples


BO00! GET BETTER MATERIAL! Carcinisation (or carcinization) is an example of convergent evolution in which a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab- like form. The term was introduced into evolutionary biology by L. A. Borradaile, who described it as "one of the many attempts of Nature to evolve a crab". 1] Wait, it's all crab? Always has been Carcinisation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Carcinisation (or carcinization) is an example of convergent evolution in which a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab-like form.
Animals Keep Evolving Into Crabs, Which Is Somewhat Disturbing That means groups of crustaceans have evolved into crabs in five completely different contexts, giving rise to a meme that the long arc of history truly bends toward the crab. Crabs: *exist* Nature: Carcinisation (or carcinization) is an example of convergent evolution in which a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab- like form. The term was introduced into evolutionary biology by L. A. Borradaile, who described it as "one of the many attempts of Nature to evolve a crab",(1] More. amy MORE!!! hippo-boy in a sailor suit @milkdrinker5000 the nature of nature is just that every so often some thing accidentally invents crab again Riunny.c wear a mask @cableknitjumper · Oct 13 000 Replying to @cableknitjumper I'm guessing the minor deity of evolution was really phoning it one week 33 27 72 3.4K wear a mask @cableknitjumper · Oct 13 me, a foolish ape: nooo you can't just keep inventing crabs you've already done it 5 times 000 evolution: haha crab printer go brrrrrrrr 21 17 1.2K 8.7K wear a mask @cableknitjumper · Oct 13 000 Stop putting the coconut crab in my mentions. I'm aware of their crimes and I condemn them. 22 111 11 2.2K wear a mask @cableknitjumper · Oct 13 now that I look at the false crabs it makes sense: the ideal body is at least 50% weapons 000 h k 35 27 351 3.5K wear a mask @cableknitjumper · Oct 13 Imao this is so embarrassing for Lovecraft 000 16 27 59 1.3K

[1] Wikipedia – Carcinisation

[2] Tumblr – quasi-normalcy

[3] Tumblr – gorjus-bacon

[4] Tumblr – goosegoblin

[5] Reddit – r/tumblr

[6] xkcd – Carcinization

[7] Twitter – @xkcdComic

[8] Reddit – Xurkitree1

[9] Twitter – @cableknitjumper

[10] YouTube – PBS Eons

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