Facts about Japanese spider crabs

Japanese Spider Crabs

 

Did you know there are over 40,000 different types of crustaceans/crabs from other areas? Today, we will learn some quick facts about the Japanese spider crab. Have you ever heard about the Japanese spider crab before? It is a giant crab! The Japanese spider crab has ten (10) very long legs. It is one of the biggest crustaceans/crabs in the world.

 

What is your favorite type of crab/crustacean?

 

With your parent/caretaker’s permission, you can click on the link below to see some pictures of the Japanese spider crab: 

CLICK HERE

 

Facts about Japanese spider crabs:

1. The Japanese spider crabs can be found in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan.

2. The leg span of the Japanese spider crab can be over 12 feet. They can weigh up to 40 pounds. The Japanese spider crab’s main body (carapace) can grow around 14 inches wide. That is a giant crab!

3. Japanese spider crabs are omnivores. They eat both ocean plant matter and meat. They eat algae, fish, shellfish, and dead sea life on the bottom of the ocean floor. The Japanese spider crab likes to walk the bottom of the ocean floor, scavenging for food.  

4. The Japanese spider crab can live up to 100 years.

5. Japanese spider crabs can regenerate their legs during the molting process. The molten process is the shedding of their exoskeleton. So, if they were to lose a leg or two while escaping a predator, they could regrow those legs. How amazing is that?

6. The Japanese spider crab is known as taka-ashi-gani in Japan. Taka-ashi-gani means tall legs crab.

7. The Japanese spider crab is known as a decorator crab. To hide from predators, it likes to put sponges, kelp, or other marine life on its shell/exoskeleton.

8. The Japanese spider crabs start life out very tiny. The female Japanese spider crab can lay over one million (1,000,000) eggs, but only a few will survive.

 

Share a fun fact about the Japanese spider crab with us?

Get your free printable Japanese spider crab worksheet

 here: 

Japanese spider crab worksheet

 

Visit my printable section for a wide selection of worksheets and coloring sheets!

 

 

Books about Japanese spider crabs:

1. Japanese Spider Crabs by Emma Bassier

2. Japanese Spider Crab Pictures and Fun Facts by Tanya Turner

3. Japanese Spider Crab (Library of Awesome Animals) by Catherine C. Finan

4. Japanese Spider Crabs by Wendy Perkins

Parents/caretakers, be sure books are child-friendly before reading them to your child/children.

 

 

Short story alert:

Once upon a time, a baby Japanese spider crab was born deep in the Pacific Ocean. After he was hatched, he began his journey into adulthood. It took him four stages to develop into adulthood. He was so happy when he reached the fourth stage. He was now an adult Japanese spider crab. He was amazed at how long his ten legs were and that the two front legs had claws. He would spend his days at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan, searching for food to eat. His favorites were algae and small fish. He also loved to decorate his exoskeleton using sponges and kelp. He thought he looked beautiful. The decorations helped him hide from predators who liked to try and eat him. He lost one of his claws trying to save himself from an octopus who was about to eat him one night for dinner. He was a lucky Japanese spider crab because his claw grew back when he went through the molten process. Oh, how he loved to scavenge the bottom of the ocean floor for food! THE END.

Thank you for reading my post!! “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” -Dr. Seuss

Check these free printables out:

http://www.joeysavestheday.com/p/printables.html

Books I have written:

http://www.joeysavestheday.com/p/blog-page_16.html

Mimi is the author of the JOEY SAVES THE DAY! book series and other titles. 

Check out my facts about Wolves blog post.