Macropodia rostrata

Macropodia rostrata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Inachidae
Genus: Macropodia
Species:
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

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

  1. ^ Peter Davie (2012). "Macropodia rostrata". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Wicksten, Mary (1993). "A Review and a Model of Decorating Behavior in Spider Crabs". Crustaceana. 64: 314–325. doi:10.1163/156854093X00667.