In the waters of the Northwest Pacific is inhabited by an unusually tough crab, known as the man-eating crab or spider crab. As a member of the pawn-eating wood spider crab family, it is one of the largest crustaceans in the world, reaching an adult length of more than 2.5 meters and weighing up to 30 pounds. This crab has a very long lifespan, up to 40 years. Interestingly, they lack genes to control body size and can grow indefinitely without human capture until they die.
The largest spider crab ever found in Japan, with an astonishing 5.8 meters in arm span and a weight of 18.6 kilograms, is the king of crabs. The spider crab has a very peculiar shape, it has a particularly long eight legs and more antennae than ordinary crabs. Sometimes, it looks like a crab, but the legs are so long; Sometimes, it looks like a spider but lives in water. This makes people wonder if there is a problem with the crab's genes, or if the spider has the wrong leg to give birth to such a strange creature.
Spider crabs have many protruding balls on their shells, which are not pimples or barnacles, but anemones. They look like flowers, but are actually fearsome carnivores. Sea anemone tentacles have special stinging cells on their hands that release toxins. Spider crabs mainly rely on anemones that parasitize crab shells to move and feed on animals in the water. At the same time, spider crabs can also use the venom of sea anemones to kill natural enemies and protect themselves. This mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship makes them interdependent, whether it is difficulty or happiness, they can face together.
Although spider crabs may seem mouth-watering, they are actually not easy to mess with. They are also sometimes very timid, and when in danger, sticky secretions flow from the crab's mouth, smeared on the body to disguise themselves and hide from enemies. However, considering the huge size and strong fighting power of spider crabs, they do not need much guts to maintain their status. Spider crabs are also known as giant crabs because they have a pair of huge and strong pincers, more than 4 meters apart, which are very powerful. Scientists estimate that an adult spider crab can pinch up to 1,800 pounds, which is equivalent to three times the bite force of a lion. This power is enough to easily shred prey, and even block and amputate great white sharks.
Spider crabs feed mainly on small fish and shellfish, which lurk on the bottom of the sea waiting for the opportunity to prey. By extending their long Kaziran eyes to look around and using the vibrators in their bodies to discern things, they can quickly reach out their claws to grab their prey. Prey targeted by spider crabs has a hard time escaping its sharp claws.
In addition to its powerful attack, the spider crab's defense is also very impressive. They are covered with a thick shell, like a layer of armor, which is almost impossible to bite by ordinary animals. With powerful pincers and a sturdy shell, spider crabs have few natural predators except for large squids. Spider crabs walk the ocean, especially in Japan, which feed on sharks, mango eels, crabs and a variety of fish. The status between them is determined by the battle on Aogou Island, and the winner will become the "emperor", enjoying the priority of mating and occupying the stone rest, while the other crabs can only be envied.
The spider crab is rumored to be the legend of the killer crab because of its mighty image. According to rumors, many people have been attacked by spider crabs in the coastal area of Yokohama, Japan, and it is said that after approaching it, they will be entangled in their slender crab legs, and then attacked by giant claws and dragged into the deep sea. However, there is actually no conclusive evidence that spider crabs actively attack humans. The legendary attacks are more exaggerated and spread to become bizarre. Spider crabs are not carnivores that feed exclusively on humans, they tend to prey on small creatures in the water.
Although spider crabs are mighty in the ocean, human interest and appetite also make them part of the food chain. Due to their large size, rich meat and rich in protein, spider crabs are very expensive, and a pound of spider crabs can be sold for 500 yuan. As a result, people have cooked spider crab into a variety of delicious dishes, whether it is stir-fried, steamed or grilled, spider crab has become a delicacy on people's tables. This sudden human hunt surprised the spider crab.
It is strange that they have long been free to move freely in the oceans and now become objects of human food. The spider crab could not have predicted that its long-standing supremacy in the ocean would be broken and become a delicacy on the human plate.