[Hodar]

This is relatively distrubing - because this would indicates that the crab is somewhat sentient; in that it knows it will regrow a claw.

Crabs have been thought to be purely instinctual creatures - no real developed brain, they really are not aware of themselves as a being. However, unless there is some instictual trigger, this behavior would indicate that the crab accessed itself, made a decision in the present, for a reaction in the distant future.

[Norm Lenhart]

Animals from muskrats to foxes and larger gnaw off their own legs when caught in leg traps, and they don’t grow back. No biggie.

[TigersEye]

It wasted no time making the decision though. It didn’t fool around trying find the best way to do it either. Pop! Done and done.

[JRandomFreeper]

this behavior would indicate that the crab accessed itself, made a decision in the present, for a reaction in the distant future.

I don't believe they have enough processing power.

I've programmed computers in cluster environments to shut themselves down in case of serious problems, so they don't screw up the others. It was simple programming. No sentience involved (except mine).

Which is why I believe intellegent design might have something to it.

/johnny