Knowra Japanese spider crab Japanese spider crab The Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) is a marine crab native to waters around Japan, distinguished by its exceptionally long legs and large body.
Macrocheira kaempferi : The scientific species name of the Japanese spider crab, a large crab native to waters around Japan. This is the species whose anatomy and range define the Japanese spider crab.
Molting : The shedding and replacement of an animal’s external covering as it grows. Like other crabs, it must molt to increase in size.
Crab fishery : The capture and commercial use of crabs as seafood. Japanese spider crabs are caught for food, though fishing pressure can affect populations.
Tasmanian giant crab : A large southern Australian crab, Pseudocarcinus gigas, known for its heavy body and claws. It is another giant crab, but its bulk contrasts with the Japanese spider crab’s elongated legs.
Decapoda : An order of crustaceans that includes crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and shrimp. The Japanese spider crab belongs to this ten-legged crustacean order.
Crustacean : An arthropod in a group that includes crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and barnacles. Crustacean biology provides the framework for its hard shell and growth by molting.
Bycatch : Animals unintentionally caught while fishing for other species. Individuals may be captured in fisheries targeting other seafloor animals.
Coconut crab : A large land-dwelling hermit crab, Birgus latro, found on islands across the Indo-Pacific. Despite its size, it lives on land, unlike this marine crab.
Majoidea : A superfamily of crabs that includes spider crabs and their close relatives. Its taxonomic placement links it to other long-legged spider crabs.
Hydraulic skeleton : A support system in which fluid pressure helps an animal maintain shape or move body parts. Crab limbs rely on muscles acting against a rigid exoskeleton, not a hydraulic skeleton; this contrast clarifies their mechanics.
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