| Great spider crab | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Oregoniidae |
| Genus: | Hyas |
| Species: | H. araneus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyas araneus | |
The great spider crab (Hyas araneus) is a species of crab found in northeast Atlantic waters and the North Sea, usually below the tidal zone. [1]
In 1986, two specimens were captured at the South Shetland Islands off the Antarctic Peninsula, apparently transported by human agency. [2] It has been feared that the species would have an adverse effect on the native fauna, but there have been no further captures from the region since the 1986 specimens. [3]
The great spider crab can moult and get rid of their outer shell/skin. This can take some time but it lets them grow to great size. After they moult they are very vulnerable to predators because of a very soft exoskeleton.
