Common Spider Crab

Common Spider Crab

Maja brachydactyla

Not Evaluated
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DESCRIPTION

The Common Spider Crab often decorates its shell with seaweed and sponges, turning itself into a walking clump of plants that fools both predators and prey. In spring it can gather by the thousands to migrate along the seafloor, a slow-moving parade that locals sometimes spot from piers and rocky coves.

Max Length 25 cm
Max Weight 4 kg
Lifespan 5 - 10 years
Habitat Seabed, coastal zone, and coral reef
Depth Range 0 - 50 m
Diet Omnivore
Activity Variable
Social Behavior Aggregative

Destinations to spot Common Spider Crab

SIGHTING PROBABILITY
  • Unlikely
  • Likely
  • Very likely
Range

Where Common Spider Crab has been recorded

Fewer recordsMore records
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Common Spider Crab

Where can you see the Common Spider Crab?

The Common Spider Crab can be seen at Canary Islands (Spain).

How big does the Common Spider Crab get?

The Common Spider Crab can reach up to 25 cm in length and 4 kg in weight.

What habitat does the Common Spider Crab live in?

The Common Spider Crab is found in these habitats: seabed, coastal zone, and coral reef.

How deep does the Common Spider Crab live?

The Common Spider Crab lives from the surface down to 50 m.

What does the Common Spider Crab eat?

Eats both plant and animal matter, which lets it adapt its diet to whatever the habitat offers.

When is the Common Spider Crab most active?

Its rhythm shifts with the season, the tide or the region, so the same species may be active by day in one place and by night in another.

How long does the Common Spider Crab live?

The Common Spider Crab lives 5 to 10 years.

What is the conservation status of the Common Spider Crab?

The Common Spider Crab is listed as Not Evaluated on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Common Spider Crab. Spotted something that looks off?

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