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Libinia emarginata Leach, 1815
Spider crabs belong to a group known as "decorative crabs": the crab's main defense against predators is its ability to camouflage itself with various spines and tubercles, algae, debris, and small invertebrates. When startled, it waves its pincers above its head to warn.
Libinia emarginata is a long-legged and slow-moving crustacean that covers itself with algae and small debris to ward off predators.
The common spider crab has a khaki, triangular carapace that measures about four inches from front to back and has a central row of nine low spines (which distinguish the animal from the six-spined spider crab).
The carapace is often decorated with various spines and tubercles and covered with algae, debris, and small invertebrates held in place by hook-like hairs.
With legs outstretched, the common spider crab can grow up to one meter in length, with males being larger than females.
The crab has white, narrow claws that are slow and not very strong, a pointed snout, and short eyestalks.
These crabs are sluggish and unaggressive scavengers with poor eyesight. Sensitive tactile organs on the tips of its walking legs allow the common spider crab to detect food in the water or mud as it walks. It often feeds on large starfish.
Bottom dwellers often move forward, although like other crabs, they can dodge to the side.
The carapace is round, with an elongated, slightly forked rostrum (elongated snout) present at the anterior end.
The color of the crayfish is brown, the body is covered with spines and bumps, the thin walking legs are conspicuous.
It is difficult to distinguish between the large and long-nosed spider crabs unless you count the spines (bumps) in the middle of the carapace.
The portulaca crab has 8 - 9 spines (the front one only small bumps), the longnose has less than 7 (usually 6), the longnose is more teardrop shaped, the portulaca crab more rounded.
Spider crabs are tolerant of polluted waters and eutrophic or low-oxygen environments.
The common spider crab must molt in order to grow. During molting, this crab clings to the top of seagrass near the water surface.
They have been observed molting in large "pods" in the fall, hibernating in dense patches during the winter, and mating in large groups in the spring.
Females about to lay eggs are kept behind the males and aggressively protected.
The young hatch from eggs that are bright orange-red when laid but turn brown during development, which takes about 25 days.
Habitat: Gulf and bay
Synonym: Libinia canaliculata Say, 1817 [in Say, 1817-1818].
Spider crabs belong to a group known as "decorative crabs": the crab's main defense against predators is its ability to camouflage itself with various spines and tubercles, algae, debris, and small invertebrates. When startled, it waves its pincers above its head to warn.
Libinia emarginata is a long-legged and slow-moving crustacean that covers itself with algae and small debris to ward off predators.
The common spider crab has a khaki, triangular carapace that measures about four inches from front to back and has a central row of nine low spines (which distinguish the animal from the six-spined spider crab).
The carapace is often decorated with various spines and tubercles and covered with algae, debris, and small invertebrates held in place by hook-like hairs.
With legs outstretched, the common spider crab can grow up to one meter in length, with males being larger than females.
The crab has white, narrow claws that are slow and not very strong, a pointed snout, and short eyestalks.
These crabs are sluggish and unaggressive scavengers with poor eyesight. Sensitive tactile organs on the tips of its walking legs allow the common spider crab to detect food in the water or mud as it walks. It often feeds on large starfish.
Bottom dwellers often move forward, although like other crabs, they can dodge to the side.
The carapace is round, with an elongated, slightly forked rostrum (elongated snout) present at the anterior end.
The color of the crayfish is brown, the body is covered with spines and bumps, the thin walking legs are conspicuous.
It is difficult to distinguish between the large and long-nosed spider crabs unless you count the spines (bumps) in the middle of the carapace.
The portulaca crab has 8 - 9 spines (the front one only small bumps), the longnose has less than 7 (usually 6), the longnose is more teardrop shaped, the portulaca crab more rounded.
Spider crabs are tolerant of polluted waters and eutrophic or low-oxygen environments.
The common spider crab must molt in order to grow. During molting, this crab clings to the top of seagrass near the water surface.
They have been observed molting in large "pods" in the fall, hibernating in dense patches during the winter, and mating in large groups in the spring.
Females about to lay eggs are kept behind the males and aggressively protected.
The young hatch from eggs that are bright orange-red when laid but turn brown during development, which takes about 25 days.
Habitat: Gulf and bay
Synonym: Libinia canaliculata Say, 1817 [in Say, 1817-1818].
