These things aren’t new on the scene. Japanese spider crabs have been around for millions of years. They’re basically living fossils. If dinosaurs had a pet, it might have looked like this. Whoa.
They live deep in the ocean—around 500 to 1,000 feet down—near Japan. So unless you’re a deep-sea submersible, you’re not likely to run into one on your beach vacation. Good news for your swim trunks.
Biggest King Crab Giant Tasmanian King Crab Taxidermy, Finished
But Do They Eat People?
Let’s address the elephant (or crab) in the room: will a Japanese spider crab eat you? No. They’re mostly scavengers, munching on dead fish, algae, and whatever else sinks down to their neighborhood. They’re not exactly hunting you down like a horror movie monster.
However, they do have claws that can crush shells. If you’re made of shell, you should be worried. Otherwise, you’re safe. Probably.
