Public warned vs consuming devil crabs

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Josiah Antonio - The Philippine Star

February 15, 2026 | 12:00am

Photo of the devil crab (left) and the floral egg crab (right) posted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 9 on its Facebook page on July 8, 2023

bfarzampen / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — The public has been warned against eating devil crabs after a content creator died from consuming the seafood in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that devil crabs live in coral reefs and are reportedly seen in Albay, Batangas, Ilocos, La Union, Marinduque, Palawan, Quezon, Sorsogon and Zamboanga as well as in the islands of Mindoro and Panay.

The crab can grow to 50 to 100 millimeters and its shell has eye-like, brown spots.

The BFAR said that devil crabs have tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which serves as their defense mechanism against their predators.

“These toxins attack the central and peripheral nervous system of humans and animals. Symptoms of poisoning included paralysis, numbness in the tongue and difficulty in breathing,” the bureau said.

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