How Tall Are Spider Crabs?
WouterSpider crabs are a decapod, or marine arthropod, which resemble a spider in many ways. Their legs are long and their body is covered with spines. They have two feeding arms, but they are not active predators. They spend most of their lives on the sea floor, hiding from predators. They feed on dead animals, such as carrion and invertebrates. They are also scavengers, collecting leftovers from other animals.
These creatures can weigh as much as 40 pounds and can grow to be as big as 12 feet in length. They live in coastal areas, particularly in the Pacific Ocean. They are often found in the shallow waters of the ocean, though they have been seen at depths of up to 1,000 feet.
Despite their size, these creatures are extremely gentle. They are known to eat live fish, crabs, shrimp and other small sea creatures, but they have never eaten humans. These crabs are also known to decorate themselves with other animals to confuse predators.
The Japanese giant spider crab is the largest known living arthropod. It has a sub-circular pear-shaped carapace. The color of the carapace ranges from dark orange to light tan. The claws are lanky and can measure up to 4 meters in length.
During their lifetime, these creatures are prone to moulting, or shedding the old exoskeleton. In the molting process, they can die due to exhaustion or become entrapped in the old shell.
Female Japanese spider crabs can lay up to one million eggs. These eggs hatch into tiny larvae within ten days. The larvae then drift like plankton on the ocean surface. Only a few of the larvae survive to adulthood.
