News Life Crabs left the sea not once, but several times, in their evolution Most terrestrial plants and animals departed the ocean for land only once in their distant past Crabs, such as this one from the Cook Islands, have colonized nearly every type of habitat on Earth, popping up everywhere from deep-sea hydrothermal vents to steamy mountainside jungles. Vicente Fores Photography/Moment/Getty Images Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Amanda Heidt November 20, 2023 at 10:00 am Most terrestrial plants and animals left the ocean a single time in their evolutionary history to live ashore.