The Blue Dragon and 39 Other Bizarre Creatures That Will Blow Your Mind
Heikegani Crab
The Heikegani crab, also known as the Samurai ghost crab, is famous for the distinct patterns on its shell, which give it the appearance of a human face. According to Japanese folklore, the crabs hold the souls of the Heike samurai warriors who were lost in the battle of Dan-no-Ura in 1185 AD.
But scientists have another theory. The crab’s facial features may be a side-effect of a phenomenon called pareidolia, which is our instinct to perceive human faces in random patterns. But despite this possibility, the Japanese refuse to add them to their diet even though the crabs are edible.
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