Spinous spider crab

Maja squinado

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT?

  • Atlantic
  • Mediterranean
  • Kattegat-Skagerrak

HOW TO MEASURE?

Caparace width (cm)

DOES IT HAVE A LEGAL SIZE?

Yes

HOW TO MEASURE

DISTRIBUTION MAP


DISTRIBUTION

Distributed along the North-east Atlantic, ranging from the Barents Sea to West Africa, including off-lying islands. Also present on the Mediterranean Sea.

ECOLOGY

Present at depths from the subtidal level to more than 150 m. It inhabits muddy, sandy and rocky bottoms and feeds mainly on seaweeds, molluscs and crustaceans.

FISHERIES

Landings mainly come from trammel net and gill net fisheries.

DID YOU KNOW

The spider crab, along with the edible crab (Cancer pagurus), is the biggest crab of the European coasts.