Macropodia rostrata

Macropodia rostrata, common names, the common spider crab, long-legged spider crab, long-legged crab, is a species of marine crab in the family Inachidae. The Macropodia Rostrata visually mimics many other types of small crabs with the exception of its long legs. By attaching algae to their thin legs, they can be confused with the stem of seaweed. This is both a defense mechanism and a predatory advantage, as unsuspecting fish will hide in seaweed beds from nearby predators. This behavior can be absent among larger crabs, and those that live at great depths like giant Japanese spider crabs.

Macropodia rostrata
Scientific classification
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M. rostrata
Binomial name
Macropodia rostrata
(Linnaeus, 1761)
Synonyms
  • Cancer rostrata Linnaeus, 1761
  • Cancer rostratus Linnaeus 1761 (basionym)
  • Stenorhynchus rostratus (Linnaeus, 1761)
  • Stenorhynchus rostratus var. spinulosum Miers, 1881
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