Giant Japanese Spider Crabs

The Japanese spider crab is the largest known arthropod. Fully grown, it attains a leg span of about 4 meters, a weight of about 20 kilograms and a body size of up to 37 centimeters. As it is a very old species of crabs, it is known as a living fossil. Let us know all about this living fossil.

Giant Japanese spider crabs, as their name suggests, are gigantic with eight thin legs and two feeding arms. They have orange bodies spotted in white. A large male spider crab, when spread out measures more than 3 meters long, with the width of its shell reaching to 30 cm wide and 40 cm long. It has a pair of compound eyes with two thorns sticking out between them. When young, the Japanese spider crabs have a hairy and thorny shell, which decreases in size with its advancing age.

The Japanese spider crabs are seen inhabiting the Pacific side of the Japanese archipelago. During the ancient times, the Japanese spider crabs were found in the jungles of Japan. There existence was then feared in the population of the region. They live in the seabed to depths of 200 to 300 meters. Spring is their egg-laying season. The Japanese spider crabs lay eggs at shallow heights of about 50 meters in water. The Giant Japanese spider crabs tend to live in vents, which are quite big in size. To distract its predators, it often attaches sponges and other small animals to its shells. This is an intellect that nature has given it, to serve as its protection mechanism. This kind of intelligence is seen in all of nature's creations. All the life forms are sent on Earth, gifted with an ability to safeguard themselves.

Giant spider crabs are omnivorous and are known to be scavengers. They consume algae, plants, small fish and mollusks. Their strong pincers help them catch their prey and tear their food before eating.

The food chain that we all have learnt in school science makes it evident that every life form is the food of some other living being of the same habitat. The Giant Japanese spider crabs are no exception. Fishermen hunt these crabs for meat. Their meat is supposed to be delicious. The fishermen catch the Giant Japanese spider crabs with the help of trawling nets. They are commonly found on the Sagami, Tosa and the Saruga bays. They are also found in the Izu Islands. In and around the Suruga Bay, they are considered a specialty. Apart from their tasty meat, they are also hunted for research and ornamental purposes. Their hunting is banned during the period in which female spider crabs lay eggs. This is one of the measures taken to protect this species.

Every species has a right to live, irrespective of their physical attributes and nature. It has a right to thrive in nature, as they are nature’s creations. A Giant Japanese spider crab can appear scary to many while some may find a thrill in observing it closely. The giganticness of this animal makes it look ferocious. But it remains our duty to save the Giant Japanese spider crabs’ species from extinction.