Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Crustacea

Subclass: Malacostraca

Order: Decapoda

Suborder: Pleocyemata

Infraorder: Brachyura

Family: Majidae

Scientific name: Macropodia rostrata

 

Norwegian: stankelbenkrabbe

(Hindrem - The Trondheim fjord / 5 meters / 11.15.2006)

Distribution: The spider crab is found as far north as Helgeland in Nordland. You may encounter it on any diveable depth. It rarely goes deeper than 50 meters, but has been reported on 350.

Characteristics: Like the lyre crab this is a master of disguise. Often you see red algae attached on its very thin legs, they are easily confused with the stems of small seaweed. The pear-shaped body never exceeds a length of 2,5 cm, so it is easily overlooked. Sometimes you can find it trying to cover the body by pulling a seaweed over itself.

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