Spider crab - Definition

Description

The spider crab (Libinia emarginata) is a species of crab. This crab grows to about 4 inches across its back. Its spiny back is often covered with a garden of sponge and seaweed. Its shell is shiny and covered with short hairs. The shell color ranges from brown to a dull yellow, grayish-yellow and the tips of the claws are white. The hairs on the shell attract algae, barnacles,and debris. They like to camouflage after moulting and grow a new shell. This crab is very slow moving. The Japanese Spider Crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) though can grow over 4m (13 feet) and is the biggest andripode in the world.

See Life-size-Model: http://www.waldenburg.de/artikel/fp-museum-krebstiere.pdf

Habitat

The spider crab is very common in the habitat of estuaries or the mouths of rivers.

Appetite

The nine spined spider crabs are scavengers. They hunt for anything and what they catch they eat.

Reproduction

The spider crab females carry the eggs on their legs for protection.

Life Cycle

First the adults mate. The female produces the eggs. Next the eggs hatch into larvae, then the larvae turn into immature crabs.

Phylum: Arthopoda Class: Crustacea Order: Decapoda Family: Majidae Genus: Libinia Species: emarginata Common Name: Portly Spider Crab