Biology:Great spider crab

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Short description: Species of crab

Great spider crab
Spider Crabs Fighting.JPG
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Oregoniidae
Genus: Hyas
Species:
H. araneus
Binomial name
Hyas araneus

The great spider crab, Hyas araneus, is a species of crab found in northeast Atlantic waters and the North Sea, usually below the tidal zone.[1]

In 1986, two specimens were captured at the South Shetland Islands off the Antarctic Peninsula, apparently transported by human agency.[2] It has been feared that the species would have an adverse effect on the native fauna, but there have been no further captures from the region since the 1986 specimens.[3]

The great spider crab can moult and get rid of their outer shell/skin. This can take some time but it lets them grow to great size. After they moult they are very vulnerable to predators because of a very soft exoskeleton.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q2281025 entry