The body of this crab can grow up to 40 cm in size and the width of the carapace. To further the illusion, a spider crab will adorn its shell with sponges and other animals. The male species of Japanese Spider Crab has a long chilipad. Body will grow to about 15 inches (37 cm) wide and the animal can weigh up to 44 lbs. Japanese spider crab facts! The cause is assumed to be either because they have been trapped in nets or because they were attacked by predators. [8][12], The Japanese spider crab was originally described by Western science in 1836 by Coenraad Jacob Temminck under the name Maja kaempferi, based on material from Philipp Franz von Siebold collected near the artificial island Dejima. It has the largest leg span of any arthropod. This species goes through two zoeal stages (planktonic) and one megalopa stage, all of which happen rapidly. It feeds on the skeletons of dead animals, mollusks and plants. From the anatomical observations of this genus and others in the family Inachidae, it has been concluded that Macrochiera is in the family Inachidae, descending from the genus Oncinpus and from it descending the genera Oreconia, Parapleisticantha and Pleistincantha. Their armored exoskeletons help p… They are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on any matter they can find on the seafloor and occasionally hunting for small invertebrates. [6] The body may grow to a size of 40 cm (16 in) in carapace width and the whole crab can weigh up to 19 kilograms (42 lb)[7]—second in mass only to the American lobster among all living arthropod species. The Japanese Spider Crab reaches 3.7 meters from its claws to claws. The Japanese name for this species is taka-ashi-gani literally translating to “tall legs crab.” Their armored exoskeletons help protect them from predators. [5], Once hatched, these larvae undergo four stages of development before they mature into adulthood. It also sometimes acts as a scavenger consuming dead animals. The first pleopods of males are unusually twisted, and its larvae appear primitive. The long legs are considered weak, and giant spider crabs are often seen missing one leg. [21] Like Oncinopus, the genus Macrocheira also has a seven segmented abdomen and a basal segment of antennae that is mobile, Macrocheira also has orbital parts, the eye socket and features around it, that are similar to differentiated genera. If you continue using our website, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website and you agree to our Privacy Policy. Specifications: It’s the legs that make this crab big — its body stops growing at about 15 inches, but the legs keep growing and growing and can eventually extend 12 feet from claw to claw. The average size caught by fishermen is a leg span of 1.0–1.2 m (3 ft 3 in–3 ft 11 in). [3] Adults are found at depths between 50 and 600 m (160 and 1,970 ft). [15] Colder water is associated with longer durations in each stage. [14] They look very different than their parents at this stage, with small, transparent bodies. [2] The first, or prezoeal stage lasts only a matter of minutes, with most molting within 15 minutes to enter the first zoeal stage. The legs of the Japanese Spider Crab are not only very long, but also very weak. The giant spider crab is the largest known species of crab and may live up to 100 years. This crab is a decapod crustacean, which belongs to the group of spider crabs, so it is characterized for having a triangular shell and long legs. The Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) is the largest living arthropod. Females tend to have a wider abdomen. Another differentiating feature is the supraorbital eave. The spine of an adult giant crab is short and curves outward at the tip. Optimal temperatures see a 70% survival through the first zoeal stage which is greatly reduced to a 30% survival in the second zoeal and Megalopa stages. *NOTE* Polar Bears DO Live In Japan. Scientists and researchers estimate that this crab can weigh up to 44 pounds and can have a leg span of thirteen feet at their largest! [11], Japanese spider crabs are mostly found off the southern coasts of the Japanese island of Honshū, from Tokyo Bay to Kagoshima Prefecture. Females lay up to one million eggs. [9] Their armored exoskeletons help protect them from larger predators such as octopuses, but giant spider crabs also use camouflage. [3] They like to inhabit vents and holes in the deeper parts of the ocean. [1] The crab is orange with white spots along the legs. During the larval stages, Macrocheira kaempferi is found near the surface as the planktonic forms drift with ocean currents. Its shell is often ornamented with various spines and tubercles and clothed in algae, debris and small invertebrates held in place by hook-like hairs. [15] This surface water ranges between 12 °C and 15 °C during the hatching season (January to March). [15], The Japanese spider crab is an omnivore, consuming both plant matter and animals. Japanese spider crab has eight legs, two feeding arms. [10] The way in which spider crabs are able to pick up and cover themselves with such organisms is by following a specific routine behavior. Description: The Japanese Spider Crab is a large species of marine crab that makes its home in the deep ocean waters around Japan, they can be found at depths between 50 and 600 meters below sea level. It has a rounded body covered with stubby projections and long slim legs. This genus is similar in anatomical arrangement to the genus Oncinopus, seeming to preserve the earliest stage of anatomical evolution in the family Inachidae. [12] They can lay up to 1.5 million eggs per season, and these eggs will hatch in 10 days on average. Today I want to write about the longest crabs in the world, the Japanese spider crabs. Japanese Spider Crabs Main Characteristics. [3][4] The diverse taxonomic history is an important part of what these creatures are and how they evolved to be what they are today. Japanese spider crab, Macrocheira kaempferi, at the Aquarium of the Pacific. 18. The male specimen is different than the females, the arms of the male specimen, where the claws of the crab are located, the longer the legs that they use to walk.Japanese spider crab's body is mostly red with white spots on his legs.The eyes of the Japanese spider crab are located at the front, with two small horns between the eyes. However, the crab has been found as far south as Su-ao, in Eastern Taiwan. Let’s meet this leggy denizen of the deep. In Japanese, it is named as taka-ashi-gani, which means “tall legs crab”. [1] As well as the single extant species, four species of the genus Macrocheira are known from fossils:[19][20], However, there is still evidence that the genus Macrocheira does come from this family in some way due to its anatomical arrangements. Japanese Spider Crabs seem to be very placid animals. Find specimens of this species at a depth of … Enter a search request and press enter. The Japanese spider crab Macrocheira kaempferi is mostly limited to the Pacific side of the Japanese islands, Konshu and Kyushu, usually at a latitude between 30 and 40 degrees North. Miers. Conservation efforts are being put forth to protect these creatures and their population from the dangers of overfishing. The genus Macrocheira contains multiple species. The Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi)! The Japanese spider crab is a real delicacy in some bays like Sagami and Suruga. The crab's bumpy carapace blends into the rocky ocean floor. The females' chelipeds are much shorter than the males'. [21] As mentioned in the taxonomic section, this genus contains the family's primitive feature of a movable antenna at the basal segment. That subgenus was raised to the rank of genus in 1886 by Edward J. Males have long chelipeds. The Japanese spider crab is a delicacy in many countries and is caught using trawling nets. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. The Japanese spider crab ( Macrocheira kaempferi) is a species of Marine biology crab that lives in the waters around Japan.It has the largest leg span of any arthropod.These giants go through three main larval stages along with a prezoeal stage in order to grow to their great size. [13] Based on results from public aquariums, Japanese spider crabs tolerate at least between 6 and 16 °C (43 and 61 °F), but are typically maintained at 10–13 °C (50–55 °F). So far, the world’s largest known living arthropod is the Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), a huge crab that may live up to 100 years. It's Possible Main Predators Are Sharks, Seals, Sea Lions, Polar Bears And Orcas. Geographic Range. Then, through mechanical adhesion and secretions, the materials attach to the crab, and are able to regenerate, and colonize on the crab. Press Esc or the X to close. Some have been known to scrape the ocean floor for plants and algae while others pry open the shells of mollusks. The span of their legs can reach up to 4 meters(13 feet). Japanese spider-crab can have a leg span of over three meters and can weigh almost 20 kilograms big enough to be capable of devouring a human child in case that's not scary enough. Upon picking up the object with the crab's slender chelipeds, the chelae is used to twist and tear off the organism, such as a worm tube or sponge, from the substrate that it currently resides on. Seasonally during early spring, from January through March many efforts to protect them from predators. 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