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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   

Spider crab

size:

carapace up to 8 centimeters

color:

brown-red to yellowish, usually depending upon the camouflage

food:

starfish, freshly molted crustaceans, polyps, bryozoans and seaweeds

enemies:

gulls, other bird species, some fish

reproduction:

sexual

  • Dut: Gewone spinkrab
  • Lat: Hyas araneus
  • Eng: Great spider crab, spinous spider crab
  • Ger: Gemeine Seespinne
  • Fren: Araignée de Mer
  • Dan: Edderkopkrabbe
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Spider crab, Ecomare

Great spider crab

Great spider crabs look like long-legged spider crabs but are much larger. They are fairly rare in the North Sea. Sometimes they get caught in fishing nets, which is an unusual experience for the fishermen. The crab is dependent upon a disguise since it can't run fast. Young great spider crabs cover their back with torn-off pieces of seaweed. Older animals use barnacles, seaweed or polyps. Should an enemy find the crab despite its disguise, its living disguise sometimes helps to defend the animal.

  • Distribution and habitat

    Great spider crabs are quite rare for the Dutch coast. They live on rocky or gravelly bottoms where they have places to hide. Sometimes, you find one on an oyster or mussel bank. Great spider crab are usually found around 50 meters deep, although they have also been reported as deep as 350 meters.