Fun Facts About the Japanese Spider Crab
The Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) is a giant deep-sea marine creature native to the cold, rocky ocean trenches surrounding Japan. Recognized for having the largest leg span of any living arthropod, fully grown adults can reach up to 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) across and weigh over 40 pounds (19–20 kg). These remarkable benthic animals can live for a century or more, a longevity enabled by stable deep-water temperatures that maintain a slow metabolic rate and reduce cellular oxidative damage over their extended lifespans.
Equipped with unique survival mechanisms, juvenile spider…
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