Japanese Spider Crab

Nature 3 Minutes

Today I present Reason #5 on why I don’t go in the water: Things like THIS live there!

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. At first glance, they look like ancient monsters that have crawled straight out of a sci-fi movie. However, in the marine community, they are known to be gentle giants. Understandably, their names are inspired by their resemblance to a well-known arachnid – spiders.

As 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. Living at such deep depths and covered in a thorny protective exoskeleton, with 10 giant legs – these animals have few natural predators. They are omnivorous, and they diet on dead and decaying animals and plant matter on the sea bed. They may at times also eat live fish that come their way.

It has the largest leg-span out of all arthropods

They can have leg-spans wider than two full grown men. These long legs are covered in small spikes which are also known as tubercles.

The Japanese spider crab legs can grow up to 12 feet! in length. The largest ever caught was named ‘Crabzilla’, which was over 12 feet across and caught in the Pacific Ocean in 2019. It was exhibited at the Scheveningen Sea Life center in The Hague, Netherlands before moving to Paris.

Males are typically bigger and armed with larger claws

Males have larger claws, called chelipeds, to fend off predators and opposing crabs.  Females tend to have wider and rounder bodies to house their eggs.

They are scavengers

Japanese spider crabs are scavengers and often do not actively hunt for prey. They prefer to scour the ocean floor for dead animals or plants.

In Japan, they are considered to be a culinary delicacy

The savory meat contained in the long legs of Japanese spider crabs are enjoyed by many in Japan. During breeding season, fishing is prohibited so that an adequate number of crabs can be maintained in the ecosystem.

Japanese spider crabs like to dress up

This species belongs to a group of crabs termed “decorator crabs” which have been observed decorating their shells with sponges, plants, and anemones.  This ornamentation allows them to camouflage and blend in with their environment, protecting them from predators and other threats.

Their legs can regenerate

Due to their length and spiny attachments, the legs of Japanese spider crabs may get torn off when caught in fishing nets or by predators. These limbs can regrow when the crab goes through a molting cycle.

They can lay up to 1.5m eggs at a time!

However, only a few survive to hatch. Those that do survive hatch approximately 10 days after and are approximately 0.03 inches in size.

They go through a larval stage

Japanese spider crabs go through a larval stage after hatching and before maturing into adults. In this phase, they do not appear structurally similar to adults. They are transparent and legless.

There is a limit as to how large their bodies can grow

The carapace, or hard upper shell, of Japanese spider crabs cap at a particular size once it reaches adulthood. Their legs, however, keep on growing and elongating.

They molt to grow

Like other crustaceans, Japanese spider crabs shed their exoskeletons—through a process called molting—as they grow. Enzymes and physical force help the crab separate from its shell. Immediately following, the soft vulnerable bodies of the crab are exposed and require about a week’s time to harden up again.

Females have “aprons”

Female Japanese crab abdomens have also been termed “aprons”. This area is where she carries her fertilized eggs. Fertilization is internal. Males insert a sperm packet into the female while their abdomens are in close proximity.

They mate and spawn in shallower waters

While adults tend to live at deeper depths (as low as 2,000 feet), Japanese spider crabs will migrate to shallower waters during their mating season which is normally between January and April.

They are gentle giants

Despite their intimidating and spiky appearance, these crabs are quite calm and slow in nature. They do not hunt and spend the majority of their time crawling around, searching for their next meal.

Their Japanese name translates to “long-legged crab”

The Japanese name for this species of crab is ‘taka-ashi-gani’, which translates into “long-legged crab”.

It may have the longest live span among crabs

Commonly known crabs—such as Dungeness crabs, king crabs, and snow crabs—live for several decades (between 10 to 30 years). Japanese spider crabs have been proposed to possess the longest lifespan of any crab—surviving for up to 100 years.

SOURCE: Fact Animal

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127 thoughts on “Japanese Spider Crab”

    1. Like

      1. George
        @BehizyTweets
        James O’Keefe just released a bombshell claiming that 60% of the ActBlue donations they investigated are coming from China

        This means the Chinese Communist Party is literally funding the Democrat party and influencing American elections.

        Where are the arrests, where are the congressional hearings?

        Like

  3. do not click on the tweet unless you want to see a naked old man.
    how is this NOT indecent exposure? old naked dudes riding bikes at pride parades.
    corrupting the morals of a minor?

    Like

  4. Like

  5. “The Amish Died of COVID at a Rate 90 Times LOWER Than the Rest of America”
    THE VIGILANT FOX
    JUN 28, 2023

    (VIDEO)

    “I did the calculation,” testified Steve Kirsch in front of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Given five Amish people died in Lancaster Country, PA, “the Amish died at a rate 90 times lower than the infection fatality rate of the United States of America.”

    “Now, how is that possible?” Steve Kirsch asked. “It’s possible because the Amish aren’t vaccinated. And because the Amish didn’t follow a single guideline of the CDC,” he answered. “They did not lock down. They did not mask. They did not social distance, They did not vaccinate, and there were no mandates in the Amish community to get vaccinated. They basically ignored every single guideline that the CDC gave us. Ignoring those guidelines meant a death rate 90 times lower than the rest of America.”

    Here’s the video transcript for those who want to read more:

    https://vigilantfox.substack.com/p/the-amish-died-of-covid-at-a-rate

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I wish someone….anyone…would interview RFK Jr. and talk about everything EXCEPT vaccines, big pharma, COVID, etc., etc. How does he feel about the Russia hoax? What about the fraudulent 2020 election? January 6? and on and on and on….I think almost ALL of us will agree with him on vaccines but we need to know about everything else. And he needs to be run to ground on the fake climate change issue as well!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. IF this is a movie, this is his PART in it…to keep exposing vaccines…
      besides. so many say vaccines are trump’s achilles heel…so he’s differentiating himself in that way

      Like

    2. Nebraska, the interviews I have heard w Kennedy in no way were restricted to vaccine issues. The primary examples are the interview w Jordan Peterson, and the one w Joe Rogan. But he has been all over the place on alt media, and yes, YT took down his interview w Peterson, but its available on Rumble. I have seen several of his speeches, and there is no emphasis on his role in vaccine info activism.
      It IS true his comments wrt current events are sadly lacking, and I agree w you that such comments would be helpful. I am anticipating he will do townhall type appearances in which people can ask ab his views on current events. I do hope so.

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  10. whoa!!!!!!!

    Citizen Free Press
    @CitizenFreePres
    John Solomon called the secret cell phone paid for by Hunter Biden.

    And Joe Biden answered. He hung up very quickly.

    Devon Archer may spill the beans on the entire Biden crime family.

    Like

  11. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

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