Spider Crab, Spiny Crab

Family Maiidae

• Portuguese: Santola
• Spanish: Centolla
• French: Araignée (de mer)
• Dutch: Augustinuskrab
• German: Grosse Seespinne
• Swedish: Spindelkrabba
• Danish: Troldkrabbe

REMARKS Maximum size (for the carapace) 25 cm by 18 cm. The colour varies from reddish orange to brown. The arrangement of the legs makes one think of a spider. This species does not occur on the American Atlantic coast, although other spider crabs (not normally eaten) do. They all have a remarkable ability to disguise themselves.