Crabmeat

Crabmeat (known as Ganigani ガニガニ in Japan) was a first-generation Badnik designed by Doctor Robotnik in the original Sonic the Hedgehog video game for the Sega Genesis and Game Gear systems.

Physical Appearance
Crabmeat, as their name implied, were inspired by the real life crab. Its main mode of locomotion was dependent on its four short legs, which allowed it to scuttle around its territory. Two photo receptors located on top of two stalks on its head allowed it a great range of vision as enemies approached it. The two pincers located on the side of this Badnik were actually only for show. The real weapon was hidden inside the pincer itself, a device that allowed it store up concentrated amounts of energy. Later models of Crabmeat (see Archie Comics adaptation below) were shown to have a vocoder installed, allowing them to communicate directly with Dr. Robotnik. The standard colors for the Crabmeat are red for the pincers, torso, and head; gray for the vocoder and legs.

Attack Pattern
When an enemy is spotted by the ever-watching Crabmeat, it begins to build up its store of concentrated energy. As soon as the weapons are fully charged, the Crabmeat will stop in its tracks, extend its claw, and fire two balls of energy from the barrels located inside of the pincers. Sonic found the Crabmeat's fatal flaw quickly; it took a good deal of time for the Crabmeat to fully charge its weaponry, making it a sitting duck for the hedgehog. In Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations Crabmeat can fire missiles from inside of the both pincers.

Sonic the Hedgehog
Crabmeat appears first time at the Green Hill Zone in both versions of Sonic the Hedgehog. It later appears at Spring Yard Zone in 16-bit version and at Jungle Zone in 8-bit version of the game.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Similiar looking, possibly an upgraded version of the Crabmeat named Taraban appeared in 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic Rivals
Crabmeat appears as a collectible card in Sonic Rivals for the PSP.

Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing
In Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, Crabmeat is an obstacle on some of the Sonic the Hedgehog race tracks.

Sonic Colors
Crabmeat appear in Sonic Colors much like other classic badniks who returned. They first appear in Aquarium Park and eventually appear in other levels. In this game, they are capable of shooting homing missiles.

Sonic Generations
Crabmeat reappeared in Sonic Generations. Like in Sonic Colors, they can shoot missiles from their claws. If a Crabmeat hits Sonic, it will fall over in laughter.

Sonic Jump
Crabmeat appears at Green Hill Zone in 2012 remake of Sonic Jump. The only way to attack in the game is to jump under of them.

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
Crabmeat appears in Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic manga. In the Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 2' story ''Clash!! South Island'', Picky explains to Sonic that have Ricky and Cucky have trapped to the Badniks and so Sonic heads to the rescue. In Sparkling Zone, he suddenly conforts Crabmeat and Newtron who tries to attack him. Sonic defeats them easily as finds out that Ricky and Cucky were inside of them.

Archie Comics
A certain model of Crabmeat was designed specifically to aid Dr. Robotnik in his schemes to take over the world of Mobius. It had a built in vocoder, allowing it to talk directly to the mad genius. Robotnik stated at one time or another that he actually preferred having the faithful Badnik serve as his assistant rather than his whiny nephew Snively. In Sonic the Hedgehog #39, in order to betray Nack the Weasel, Robotnik altered Crabmeat giving him the ability to become very large. Shortly after Crabmeat tossed Nack out a window, he was destroyed by the new Mecha Sonic.

Crabmeat later appeared on the Island of Misfit Badniks along with many of the other scrapped badniks Robotnik Prime had designed, but the island was sunk when Sonic and Pseudo Sonic collided in a battle against each other.

Sonic the Comic
Crabmeat appeared in various early issues of Sonic the Comic, appearing (as in the games) as standard units in Doctor Robotnik's badnik army.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
Crabmeat played a very minor role in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie. Towards the beginning, after Sonic rescues Tails and the Old Man (Oji-San), a Crabmeat approaches them on the beach. Laughing, Sonic and Tails allow the Crabmeat to pinch the Old Man (after which it scuttles away).

Trivia

 * A crab from the Sonic X episode "Depths of Danger" resembles Crabmeat.
 * Kani, or gani, is Japanese for crab.
 * In Sonic Blast, an unnamed badnik is similar to Crabmeat.
 * In the Ristar video game, there's a lobster-like enemy in the Planet Undertow level which can shoot fireballs from its pincers, much like Crabmeat.
 * Crabmeat appears in Sonic and the Black Knight in winning Fan Art.