据称，这种河蟹能长到西餐用的盘子一样大小，可能在沟渠及江河中泛滥。

　　科学家同样也担心英国当地的蟹种的生存会受到打压，就像当年从美国引进灰松鼠导致英国本地的红松鼠几乎绝迹一样。

　　英国纽卡斯尔大学的研究人员通过研究大闸蟹在上个世纪是怎样逐步在欧洲繁殖最后得出结论：这种蟹的数量有可能在某天爆发泛滥整个英国。

　　这种蟹由于其爪子上有密集的深棕色绒毛而得名“中华绒鳌蟹”，俗名“大闸蟹”。

　　目前科学家们正为当地受保护的物种祈祷同时担心大闸蟹用它们50cm长的巨螯打洞破坏河岸堤坝的安全。

　　这种在中国和日本被视为美味的蟹种已经在英国的泰晤士河、亨伯河和泰恩河都被发现。

　　研究小组的马特·本特利博士说，“从20世纪70年代，大闸蟹在英国的蔓延模式就像其它发生在欧洲本土和波罗的海地区的外来物种“入侵”一样是不可鄙免的。”

　　

Giant crabs set to invade Britain

　　Environmentalists warn that Britain's waterways are set to be invaded by giant exotic Chinese crabs.

　　They say the mitten crabs, which can grow to the size of a dinner plate, could overrun canals and rivers.

　　Scientists also fear native species of crab could be overwhelmed like the red squirrel, on the verge of extinction after being pushed out by greys from the US.

　　Researchers at Newcastle University studied how the mittens had swept through continental Europe in the last century.

　　And they concluded that there could be a population explosion in the UK at any time.

　　The mitten crab, given its name because its claws, are coated with clumps of dark brown fur.

　　They prey on protected species and destabilise river banks by burrowing into them with their 50cm-long boreholes.

　　They are considered a delicacy in China and Japan when eaten raw and are already present in some British rivers including the Thames, Humber and Tyne.

　　Dr Matt Bentley, a member of the research team, said: "The pattern of the spread in the UK since the 1970s mirrors the spread in mainland Europe and in the Baltic region which experienced a major outbreak.

　　"This is a fairly good indication that the UK is set for a similar situation."