Japanese Spider Crab Value Guide

The Japanese Spider Crab, or 'taka-ashi-gani', is a marvel of marine biology and a prized specimen for natural history collectors due to its record-breaking 12-foot leg span. Inhabiting depths up to 2,000 feet in the Pacific Ocean, these long-lived arthropods represent a unique intersection of natural wonder and Japanese cultural significance.

What Is Japanese Spider Crab Worth?

• Specimen size and completeness, particularly the preservation of all ten long, spindly limbs.
• The quality of the taxidermy or preservation process used to maintain the chitinous exoskeleton.
• Historical provenance or documentation of the specimen's origin from the deep waters surrounding Japan.
• The rarity of large, intact adult specimens which can live for up to 100 years in the wild.

How to Identify Japanese Spider Crab?

• Examine the leg span for a reach of up to 12 feet from claw to claw, the largest of any known arthropod.
• Identify the orange body with white spots, featuring a shell composed of chitin and calcium carbonate.
• Look for the characteristic long, slender walking legs and the smaller, powerful chelipeds (claws) found on males.
• Verify the presence of small tubercles or bumps on the carapace which the crab uses for camouflage.

History of Japanese Spider Crab

The Japanese spider crab, Macrocheira kaempferi, is the largest known arthropod by leg span, reaching up to 12 feet. These fascinating creatures inhabit the Pacific Ocean around Japan, typically found at depths of 160 to 2,000 feet. They are scavengers, feeding on dead animals and shellfish, and can live for up to 100 years. Their long legs and camouflage help them navigate the dark ocean floor and avoid predators. In Japanese culture, they are sometimes known as 'taka-ashi-gani', meaning 'tall-legged crab'. Despite their daunting appearance, they are gentle giants and are a popular attraction in aquariums worldwide.