lives where light fades
- Size
- Carapace: 20–30 cm, Leg span: 80–100 cm
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Spongivore and detritivore. Selective feeder on sponges and ascidians.
- Habitat
- Deep rocky reefs and offshore islands. Below thirty metres depth.
- Range
- Chatham Islands and southern coasts, New Zealand. Deep offshore waters.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- Bycatch in deep-sea fisheries. Occasional snagging by fishing gear.
- Population
- Stable in deep water habitats. Minimal threats due to remote location.
- Conservation Status
- data_deficient
- Human Risk
- caution
- Handling Note
- massive size and spiny legs pose physical injury risk
- Conservation Note
- Marine crustacean outside the scope of current NZTCS terrestrial and freshwater assessments.
- Te Ao Māori
- Deep-sea giants capture the imagination. The Giant spider crab represents the scale of life possible in the ocean's depths. While not part of everyday folklore, its size commands respect from those who encounter it.
It does not inhabit the shallows. The Giant spider crab is a creature of depth, found below thirty metres where the light fades. It is massive. The leg span can exceed one metre. It moves slowly. It does not need to hurry.
The carapace is broad and triangular. It is covered in tubercles and spines. These provide protection and anchorage for epibionts. Sponges and algae grow on the shell. The crab becomes part of the reef.
Found off the Chatham Islands and southern coasts. The water is cold and clear. Currents are strong. The crab holds firm. Its legs are long and powerful. They grip the rock.
Diet includes sponges and ascidians. It uses its small chelae to pick food from the substrate. It is a selective feeder. It chooses nutritious items. It ignores the rest.
Threats are minimal due to depth. Fishing gear occasionally snags individuals. The impact is low. The population is secure. It lives in the dark. It grows old.