The carapace, or hard upper shell, of Japanese spider crabs cap at a particular size once it reaches adulthood. There is a limit as to how large their bodies can grow In this phase, they do not appear structurally similar to adults.
Japanese spider crabs go through a larval stage after hatching and before maturing into adults. Those that do survive hatch approximately 10 days after and are approximately 0.03 inches in size. These limbs can regrow when the crab goes through a molting cycle. Their legs can regenerateĭue to their length and spiny attachments, the legs of Japanese spider crabs may get torn off when caught in fishing nets or by predators. This ornamentation allows them to camouflage and blend in with their environment, protecting them from predators and other threats. This species belongs to a group of crabs termed “decorator crabs” which have been observed decorating their shells with sponges, plants, and anemones. The savoury meat contained in the long legs of Japanese spider crabs are enjoyed by many in Japan.ĭuring breeding season, fishing is prohibited so that an adequate number of crabs can be maintained in the ecosystem. In Japan, they are considered to be a culinary delicacy They prefer to scour the ocean floor for dead animals or plants. Japanese spider crabs are scavengers and often do not actively hunt for prey. Males have larger claws, called chelipeds, to fend off predators and opposing crabs.įemales tend to have wider and rounder bodies to house their eggs. Males are typically bigger and armed with larger claws It was exhibited at the Scheveningen Sea Life centre in The Hague, Netherlands before moving to Paris. The largest ever caught was named ‘Crabzilla’, which was over 12 feet across and caught in the Pacific Ocean in 2019. The Japanese spider crab legs can grow up to 3.7m (12 feet!) in length. These long legs are covered in small spikes which are also known as tubercles.
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They can have leg-spans wider than two full grown men. It has the largest leg-span out of all arthropods Interesting Japanese Spider Crab Facts 1.
There are various conservation efforts to help protect the japanese spider crab from overfishing. However, due to overfishing and destruction of their natural environments, numbers have been reported to be decreasing. Japanese spider crabs have not been evaluated by the IUCN and are not currently categorized as an endangered species. They may at times also eat live fish that come there way. They are omnivorous, and they diet on dead and decaying animals and plant matter on the sea bed. Living at such deep depths and covered in a thorny protective exoskeleton, with 10 giant legs – these animals have few natural predators. Omnivore: plants, algae, mollusks, shrimp, small fishĪs a species of marine crab, these crabs are often found inhabiting holes and pits on the ocean floor between 160 – 2,000 feet in depth. Orange and white bodies with long spiny legs Seabed at depths between 160 to 2000 feet (50-600 m) deep, thrive at water temperatures of approximately 50 degrees Japanese Spider Crab Facts Overview Habitat: Understandably, their names are inspired by their resemblance to a well-known arachnid – spiders. However, in the marine community, they are known to be gentle giants. Juvenile crabs might also be found hitching a ride on cannonball jellyfish when the jellyfish wash up onto the shore.The Japanese spider crab is a giant crustacean that can grow up to 12.5 feet that is most commonly found on the Pacific side of Japan.Īt first glance, they look like ancient monsters that have crawled straight out of a sci-fi movie. On the Coast: The molts (shed exoskeletons) of spider crabs often wash up on Georgia’s beaches. They are sluggish and unaggressive scavengers that have poor eyesight but sensitive chemoreceptors on the tips of their legs. Interesting Facts: The male spider crab grows larger than the female. Newly hatched larvae go through three planktonic stages, which last about nine days, before settling onto the benthos. The fertilized eggs are brooded on the female’s abdomen until they hatch. Legs can reach a foot in diameter.īreeding: During mating, the male transfers a spermatophore to the female. Size: Can reach four inches in carapace (shell) width. The carapace is covered in Velcro-like hairs which attract algae, bryozoa, and debris that juvenile crabs use for camouflage. Habitat: All types of benthos including estuaries, beaches, and bays.ĭescription: A round, spiny, brown/yellow crab with white-tipped claws.
Range/Geographical Distribution: Along the coast from Nova Scotia to Brazil.