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Dieren en planten

Decapods   Crabs   Flying Crab   Velvet Swimming Crab   East Asian shore crab   Shore Crab   Pennant's swimming crab   Long-legged spider crab   Great spider crab   

Long-legged spider crab

size:

carapace up to 2 centimeters wide, 3 centimeters long

color:

greyish-blue, sometimes pink carapace with white spot(s)

food:

omnivore: plants, worms, fish, carrion, other crustaceans, shellfish

enemies:

gulls, other bird species, some fish

reproduction:

sexual

  • Dut: Hooiwagenkrab
  • Lat: Macropodia rostrata
  • Eng: Long-legged spider crab
  • Ger: Gespensterkrabbe
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Long-legged spider crab, Edgar Sidaan

Long-legged spider crab

It's not difficult to see where this crab got its name, with its long legs! Although the long-legged spider crab lives along the entire Dutch coast, it is a difficult crab to find. This crab is namely a master at disguising itself, just like the great spider crab. There are spines on the legs of this spider crab, which it uses to prick all kinds of living material. It covers itself with seaweed, anemones, sponges and polyps. With its thin legs and small body as well as all these animals on its feet, it is difficult to see the crab itself. In fact, it looks more like walking seaweed. If it should be recognized, the pricked animals often scare away any possible enemies.

  • Distribution and habitat

    Long-legged spider crabs are fairly common along the North Sea, Wadden Sea and delta waters. They live between the low-tide mark and around 90 meters deep. You always find them among other growth. Thanks to their camouflage, they are difficult to find, but that's not a problem on open plains. They tend to live in areas with harder substrate, since that's where there are sheltered areas. So look for them among seaweed, polyps or sponges on rocks, shell bottoms and gravel.