Scientific name : Maja brachydactyla
Family : Majidae (spider crabs, decorator crabs, 206 species)
Size : Up to 25 cm
Distribution : Limited to the Atlantic coast, from Spain to Scotland
Biology : Despite their name, spider crabs are simply long-legged crabs. Crabs in this family often allow algae and sponges to grow on their shells, or even implant them deliberately, in order to camouflage themselves.
It’s easy to tell the difference between males and females by looking at their bellies. Females have a broad, thick abdomen, while males have a thin, very narrow abdomen.
IUCN status : Not assessed
