The Japanese spider crab is a species of marine crab and is the biggest one that lives in the waters around Japan. At around 3.7 meters, it has the largest leg-span of any arthropod. The Japanese name for this species is taka-ashi-gani,, literally translating to “tall legs crab”. It goes through three main larval stages along with a prezoeal stage to grow to its great size.
Japanese spider crab
A Japanese spider crab at the Manila Ocean Park, the Philippines
Rear view of a Japanese spider crab at Monterey Bay Aquarium
This crab specimen from the American Museum of Natural History measures 3.8 metres (12 ft) across its outstretched legs.
Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting tail-like abdomen, usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all the world's oceans, in freshwater, and on land, are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, and have a single pair of pincers on each arm. They first appeared during the Jurassic period, around 200 million years ago.
Crab
Gecarcinus quadratus, a land crab from Central America
Crab (Pachygrapsus marmoratus) on Istrian coast, Adriatic Sea
Female crab Xantho poressa at spawning time in the Black Sea, carrying eggs under her abdomen