Macrocheira kaempferi
Range: Japanese spider crabs are found on the Pacific side of Japanese islands Konshu and Kyushu.
Habitat: They are found near depths of 500 to 1,000 feet. They can survive in temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.
Size: The body can grow to 15 inches in width, with a leg span of up to 15 feet!
Diet: Japanese spider crabs generally do not hunt, but craw along the sea bed and eat dead and decaying matter.
Conservation Connection: Japanese spider crabs are a delicacy in many countries and is caught using trawling nets. Increased demand on the species has led to loss in population size. Efforts are being made to increase protection such as limiting the fishing season.
Did you know? They are the largest living known anthropod and can live to be 100 years old!