What Is Devil Crab? The Deadly Crustacean Linked to Food Vlogger Emma Amit's Death

Emma Amit, 51 years old, a Filipino food vlogger from Puerto Princesa, a coastal town in Palawan, with more than a thousand followers, has unfortunately died from eating a deadly crustacean, a devil crab. But what exactly is devil crab, and how deadly is it?

Many were saddened by Emma's passing as she is known to her followers for having a very positive aura and jolly personality, as they always see on her videos.

Emma vlogs their life in Palawan and often does a cooking and mukbang video of the seafood they capture. Emma and her husband are both fishfolks in the town.

Food Vlogger Died From Eating Devil Crab

In a video she posted, Emma can be seen holding a bucket full of seafood they caught, reports said that most of them are devil crabs.

The 51-year-old cooked the seafood, and unfortunately, after consuming it, Emma fell gravely ill, with neighbors reporting that she was convulsing while being transported to a local clinic.

She was later taken to a hospital after her health deteriorated further; Emma's lips reportedly turned dark blue while she was unconscious.

The doctor tried their best to save her, but unfortunately, there was nothing they could do, and she died on 6 February, days after eating shellfish.

PrimeTimer reported that the chief of the village of Luzviminda, Laddy Gemang, dispatched village officials to Emma's home to investigate and discovered the bright shells of the devil crabs on her trash.

'I saw the shells, there were around eight. I don't know if all of them were devil crabs, but they all looked alike,' Gemang said.

According to local officials, the couple was experienced in identifying marine life found in the area.

Gemang said, 'This is really saddening because they should have known,' he said. 'She and her husband, they are both fisherfolk. They live by the sea, so I know they know about this devil crab that's dangerous to eat. So why did she eat it? That is what I'm confused about.

The village chief warned the residents: 'So, to the residents of Puerto Princesa, I am urging you to be doubly vigilant. Do not eat these dangerous devil crabs because they have claimed two lives here in our town. Don't gamble with your lives.'

Philippine Authorities Issued a Warning about Devil Crab

Following the news about the passing of Emma due to eating devil crabs, the Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has since issued a warning about the deadly crustacean.

Reminding the public to exercise caution and not to capture and eat seafood that they're unfamiliar with.

The bureau said, 'This species should never be handled or consumed under any circumstances,' and added, 'It is not a "delicacy," it is a biological hazard.'

What Is Devil Crab, and How Deadly Is It?

The Devil Crab, scientifically known as Zosimus aeneus, is one of the most deceptively dangerous creatures found in Indo-Pacific coral reefs. It is also considered the most poisonous crab in the Philippines.

Despite its vibrant, mosaic-patterned shell, this crustacean is far from a seafood delicacy; it is inherently lethal.

It harbors potent neurotoxins like Tetrodotoxin and Saxitoxin—the same deadly poisons found in pufferfish.

Because these toxins are heat-stable, they cannot be neutralized by cooking, making any consumption of the crab potentially fatal.

Without a known antidote, the 'devil' in its name serves as a literal warning: a single meal can lead to total respiratory failure and death within hours.