Crabs are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, composed primarily of highly mineralized chitin, and armed with a pair of chelae (claws) Crabs vary in size from the pea crab, a few millimeters wide, to the Japanese spider crab, with a leg span up to 4 m (13 ft) Environment Crabs are found in all of the world's oceans, as well as in fresh water and on land, particularly inThe Japanese spider crab is a rather menacinglooking crustacean the group of animals that includes crabs, shrimp, insects, spiders and horseshoe crabs) The Japanese spider crab has one of the best leg traverse of any arthropod, attaining 55 meters (18 ft) from paw to paw The Japanese spider crab is an omnivore, consuming both plant matter and animals The diet they 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 They are found most often in the Sagami, Suruga, and Tosa bays, as well as off the coast of the Kii peninsula However, the crab has been found as far south as Suao, in Eastern Taiwan
Common Spider Crab Chesapeake Bay Program
