Portly Spider Crab
ExploreInvertebrate
Portly Spider Crab
libinia emarginata
The Portly Spider Crab is a large, friendly crab that loves to scuttle around the ocean floor. Its unique shape and colorful shell make it a fun creature to discover during beach walks!
Habitat: Coastal waters and sandy ocean floors
Appearance
The Portly Spider Crab has a triangular, spiky, pear-shaped carapace that is often covered in attached marine organisms. Its dull brown-green body blends with the seafloor, and it possesses ten long, slender, pointed legs.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderDecapodaFamilyEpialtidaeGenusLibinia
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
A group of these ocean crabs is sometimes called a "cast"!
Its spiky shell helps grip plants for awesome camouflage!
Spider crabs love a good feast of tiny dead animals!
They taste with tiny hairs found on their legs and claws!
Special abilities
Ability
Ocean Gardener
Portly Spider Crab can attach seaweed and sponges to its shell, creating excellent camouflage from predators.
Ability
Limb Regenerator
Portly Spider Crab can re-grow lost legs or claws, which helps it recover from injuries or predator attacks.
Ability
Underwater Builder
Portly Spider Crab uses its strong, pointed legs to dig into soft sediments, helping it find food and hide.
Measurements & details
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years
- Number Of Legs
- 10
- Average Carapace Width
- Max 15 cm
- Average Leg Span
- Up to 50 cm
- Average Weight
- 100-500 g
Diet & Feeding
This crab munches on tiny plants and bits of dead stuff it finds on the ocean floor.
Primary Foods
- Algae
- Seaweed
- Detritus
- Small worms
- Mollusks
- Crustacean larvae
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
A common seabird that preys on crabs in shallow waters.
eaten by
Blue Crab
Callinectes sapidus
Larger blue crabs may prey on smaller spider crabs.
eats
Sea Lettuce
Ulva lactuca
This crab often grazes on green algae like sea lettuce.
eats
Blue Mussel
Mytilus edulis
Feeds on small mussels and other invertebrates.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Portly CrabSpider Crab
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Be careful near the water and always ask an adult for help!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Portly Spider Crab live?
2-5 years
What does Portly Spider Crab eat?
This crab munches on tiny plants and bits of dead stuff it finds on the ocean floor.
Where is Portly Spider Crab usually found?
Coastal waters and sandy ocean floors
How does Portly Spider Crab hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Portly Spider Crab have?
10
What is the average Carapace Width of Portly Spider Crab?
Max 15 cm
What is the average Leg Span of Portly Spider Crab?
Up to 50 cm
What is the average Weight of Portly Spider Crab?
100-500 g
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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