Species Type:
Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Southern spider crab
Size:
Males in this species grow slightly larger than females. They can grow up to one foot (30 centimeters) in leg span.
Diet:
These crabs are slow movers and unaggressive predators. They eat large sea stars and algae.
Range & Habitat:
These crabs can be found in estuaries, bays and coastal communities along the east coast of North America.
Details:
The southern spider crab is tan-brown in color with a triangle shaped shell. They have nine spines lining the front of their shell that serve as protection from predators. Algae and other debris can be caught on these spines, slightly changing their appearance. Their claws are white, small and not very strong.