The Crab Cow is so named because of it's crab-like appearance to humans and the cow-like behaviour. It is in fact, related to neither.  It is a hexapod armoured mammal that fills a similar ecological niche to the cows of Earth. They are fairly slow, dim-witted herbivores that travel in herds.  They are sometimes domesticated as general beasts of burden, though they do prefer to stay with individuals of their own kind.

There is a group of nomadic farmer myns that live collectively with crab cows as shepards.  These types of myn follow around large herds of some herbivores (Crab Cows and a few others) and provide medical aid, magical protection, scouting or other services to the entire herd. They travel along with the herd, their items distributed to a few most trusted individuals.  A few times a year the shepards will trade one of the weaker calves or aging adults to a community that they pass by. With some species this is done covertly, but with most it is done as a matter of herd consensus. Some aging individuals will even do so voluntarily rather than befall death at the maw of a predator.

The trade gives the shepards and herd in return supplies that will aid them for the next phase of the year. Meat is a very sacred commodity to Shashnimyn and these animals can fetch very good exchanges.  If the needed goods cannot be obtained but the it is the correct time of year, easily tradable goods are sought.  The Crab Cows consider it very honourable to give themselves up for trade, and thus the good of the herd, but those who do not wish to do so willingly are not forced to.

There are many herds that still live independantly of Shashnimyn herders.  These are generally smaller herds but ruled by large and powerful individuals.  It is thought the independant thinking of these powerful individuals is what keeps them resistant to the nomadic interaction.  These monospecies herds still coexist with nomadic tended herds and there is rarely animosity between them.

Here is a lone crab cow pictured at night.