Macrocheira kaempferi

ON EXHIBIT:  Boneless Beauties at Ocean Journey.

FUN FACTS
The giant spider crab is the largest known species of crab and may live up to 100 years.  The Japanese name for this species is taka-ashi-gani literally translating to “tall legs crab.”  Their armored exoskeletons help protect them from larger predators such as octopi, but giant spider crabs also use camouflage. The crab's bumpy carapace blends into the rocky ocean floor. To further the illusion, a spider crab will adorn its shell with sponges and other animals.

CONSERVATION
The spider crabs are considered a prized delicacy in many parts of Japan.  They are caught using small trawling nets.  Harvesting of the crab is forbidden during the spring, when crabs move to shallower water to reproduce.  Populations of this species of crab have diminished over recent years and there are many efforts to protect them.

GIANT SPIDER CRAB WALLPAPER

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