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Japanese spider crab

Adapted from Wikipedia ยท Explorer experience

A large Japanese spider crab on display at Manila Ocean Park.

The Giant Spider Crab of Japan

The Japanese giant spider crab is one of the biggest crabs in the sea! It lives in the deep, cool waters near Japan. These crabs have very long legs that can stretch almost 12 feet from one claw to the other.

People in Japan love to eat these crabs, but they also want to keep them safe in the ocean. Special rules help make sure there are always enough crabs for everyone to enjoy.

The Japanese spider crab looks a bit scary with its big claws, but it is actually very gentle. It likes to hide on the ocean floor, covering its shell with sponges and other small sea creatures to blend in.

These crabs are special because they are the largest crab species in the world. Scientists have studied them for many years and even found fossils of similar crabs from long ago. The Japanese spider crab is also known as taka-ashi-gani, which means "tall-legged crab" in Japanese.

A Japanese spider crab at the Manila Ocean Park, the Philippines

Images

A giant spider crab on display at Sunpiazza Aquarium.
A giant Japanese spider crab on display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, showcasing its impressive size and unique features.
A giant Japanese spider crab on display at the Osaka Aquarium, showcasing its impressive size and unique legs.
A preserved Japanese spider crab, one of the largest crustaceans in the world, showcasing its unique long legs and body structure.

Related articles

Crab
Japan
Species

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Japanese spider crab, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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