They may look like something from a 1950s sci-fi film, but Japanese spider crabs are gentle giants. And giants they are. Of the 60,000 species of crustaceans on Earth, Japanese spider crabs are the largest, spanning up to 12.5 feet from the tip of one front claw to the other.
The largest crab in the world is the Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi). The crab's body can potentially grow up to 16 inches (carapace width), and the entire crab can weigh a stunning 42 pounds. The Japanese spider crab is second only to the American lobster when it comes to sheer mass.
The massive leg span of the Japanese spider crabs make it the world's largest living crab. The carapace (main body cavity) of the Japanese spider crab is 12 inches (30 centimeters) across. But its legs, which continue to grow even once it reaches adulthood, can span up to 12 feet (3.8 meters) from claw to claw.
Biology. Red king crabs can grow to be very large, up to 24 pounds with a leg span of 5 feet. Males grow faster and larger than females. Female red king crabs reproduce once a year and release between 50,000 and 500,000 eggs.
Fully grown it can reach a leg span of 12 feet (3.7 m), a body size (carapace width) of 15 inches (38 cm) and weigh as much as 44 pounds (20 kg). The width of the oval-shaped and vertically rounded shell can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) and can be up to 16 inches (41 cm) long. Males are larger than the females.
They can reach 16 cm across their carapace or shell, and 70 cm across their legs – although most are not this big. These crabs are a native species and can be found in marine water across south eastern Australia, commonly in shallow waters but down to 820m deep.
Spider crabs are pot caught, which means they're sustainable, and have a low impact on the seabed. Their white meat, particularly the claws, is deliciously flavourful and is perfect for sprucing up sandwiches, stirring into pastas, or as a pretty impressive centrepiece on your dinner table.
As a rule of thumb, if you have crab lovers we recommend about 1 1/2 pounds per person. If you have some big eaters you might want to go with 2 pounds per person.
The world's largest land-living crustaceans, coconut crabs (Birgus latro, pictured), can grow up to a meter long, but their real claim to fame is their strength: They've been known to lift more than 30 kilograms and earn their names by cracking into coconuts to eat.
Also known as the coconut crab, the robber crab is the world's biggest land crustacean. It can weigh more than 4 kg and measure up to a metre across.
A survey of the population revealed thousands of tons of crabs, more than eleven billion animals estimates had said were on the Pacific Ocean floor, simply weren't there.
Tasmanian King Crab ~ lives on rocky and muddy bottoms in the oceans off Tasmania, Southern Australia on the edge of the continental shelf at depths of 150m deep and cold water. The Giant King Crab is the largest of Australian crabs and are fished ethically and sustainably.
giant crab, (Macrocheira kaempferi), species of spider crab (q.v.) native to Pacific waters near Japan. It occurs at depths of 50 to 300 m (150 to 1,000 feet). The largest specimens may be up to 3.7 m or more from the tip of one outstretched claw to another.
The Tasmanian giant crab is one of the largest crabs in the world, reaching a mass of 17.6 kg (39 lb) and a carapace width of up to 46 cm (18 in). Among crabs only the Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) can weigh more.
Spider crab is a type of crab found in the waters off the coast of Japan. It is considered a delicacy in Japanese cuisine, and its meat is prized for its sweet and delicate flavor. The crab is typically steamed or boiled and then served with soy sauce and wasabi.
If you are just serving crabs, a good rule of thumb is about 8-12 crabs per person. If you are serving other food, we estimate about a 1/2 dozen crabs per person.
Meat of the blue crab has a rich, sweet, succulent and buttery flavor. The body meat is delicately flavored, while claw meat is nutty. Softshells offer a crunchy texture, since they are eaten shell and all. Cooked shells of blue crabs turn orange-red.
Generally, a bushel of large-sized crabs can feed about eight people. If you serve steamed crabs with other food, plan for about six crabs per person. If crabs are your main dish, order eight to a dozen crabs per person.
To kill a crab humanely, refer to the RSPCA guidelines (search for "crustacean"). I find one large crab (around 800gm to 1kg) is enough for two people as an entrée or a small main.
5 lbs of crab legs will serve 4 to 5 people.
Do not eat more than four servings of crab meat per month (one serving per week).
Gorilla Crabs are large, hairy crabs with black tips on their claws. These crabs grow large and will try to prey on small fish and shrimp in the reef tank.
Not all crabs are safe to eat, however, and a few can carry lethal doses of toxins. Most of the toxic crabs belong to the family Xanthidae which is the most diverse family of crabs in Australia and notable for their black tipped claws.
SHOW RESPECT: Spider Crabs are considered inedible and are not to be touched or manhandled.