Hobbies And Interests
Size
The giant spider crab can reach 10 feet across. However, this measurement indicates their leg span; the body of an individual animal usually grows to around 15 inches across. A large adult individual typically weighs between 35 and 44 lbs. Like all crabs, they have eight legs and two feeding arms topped with pincers. They have an external skeleton -- called a carapace -- that covers their body, and has sturdy projections all over it, including two small horns at the front, between the eyes.
Habitat
Giant spider crabs live in the waters of the Pacific Ocean around the Japanese archipelago. They range in depth from 150 to 1000 feet. The females move to shallower water in the spring when they are ready to lay their eggs.
Diet
Giant spider crabs are scavengers. They move slowly across the ocean floor, eating dead animals that have sunk to the bottom of the sea. They use their pincers to pick up material and transfer it to their mouth parts, which have mandibles for crushing up food.
Predators
Despite its size, the giant spider crab is not without enemies. Chief among them are octopuses, who have a beak-like mouth strong enough to break through the crab's carapace. As well as its pincers, the crab will often attach sponges and anemones to its shell in an attempt to put-off potential attackers. Furthermore, giant spider crabs are considered a delicacy and are fished by humans -- although efforts have been made to restrict hunting, as the population has declined over recent decades. If it is not eaten, a giant spider crab may live up to 100 years.