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Creature Feature: Common Spider Crab

6/29/2018

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​Our marine adventure day camp went crabbing on Monday morning at Chincoteague’s Veteran Memorial Park. The group waited to feel a tug on their lines before slowly reeling up crabs and catching them in a net. Many campers caught blue crabs, but one crab they caught was not like the rest. It was shaped different and had a lot of things attached to its carapace, or back.
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​The crab was not a blue crab, but a common spider crab! Not to be confused with a Japanese spider crab, a common spider crab is only about one foot wide when its legs are stretched out. They often walk forward, but they can walk from side to side like other crabs do.
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​Spider crabs are slow and have poor eyesight, so it has tasting and sensing organs on its legs to identify food or mud. Examples of what they eat include starfish and mussels. 
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​Wondering what’s all over the carapace of this spider crab? They’re decorations! Spider crabs are considered “decorator crabs.” This means they will attach algae and debris to their carapaces with hook-like hairs. This is used for camouflage as defense against predators. The spider crab caught by our day camp has tunicates on it. It sure was an exciting find!
Picture
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  • HOME
  • University & Research
    • SUMMER COURSES >
      • REGISTRATION & FEES
      • STUDENT LIFE
    • FIELD TRIPS >
      • FACILITIES
      • ACTIVITIES & SITES
      • FIELD TRIP FEES
    • RESEARCH >
      • STUDENT RESEARCH
      • FACULTY & INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
    • Spring Break Summer Sampler
  • CAMPS
    • FAMILY CAMPS
    • YOUTH CAMPS >
      • DAY CAMPS
      • OVERNIGHT CAMPS
      • CAMP ACTIVITIES
      • FAQ
  • ROAD SCHOLAR
    • Bicycling the Eastern Shore of Virginia
    • Birding Virginia's Eastern Shore
    • Discover the Islands of Virginia's Eastern Shore
    • Kayaking the Eastern Shore
    • Share a Marine Science Adventure with your Grandchild
  • OTHER PROGRAMS
    • SCHOOL PROGRAMS >
      • GENERAL INFO
      • CLASSES
      • FAQ
      • FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
    • FRIDAY ADVENTURE SERIES >
      • FRIDAY ADVENTURE SERIES OCEAN ADVENTURE
      • FRIDAY ADVENTURE SERIES KAYAKING
      • MARSH MYSTERIES CLASS
      • INTERTIDAL EXPLORERS
    • HOMESCHOOL
    • CUSTOM PROGRAMS
    • SCOUTS
    • OUTREACH
    • TEACHER WORKSHOPS
  • PROGRAM GUIDE
  • ABOUT US
    • STAFF/CONTACT US
    • RENTALS
    • EMPLOYMENT
    • INTERNSHIPS
    • BLOG
    • MEMBER UNIVERSITIES
    • CAMPUS
    • DONATE NOW >
      • WAYS TO SUPPORT US