Macropodia deflexa Forest, 1978 - A spider crab (Crustacean images)

Specimen above found on Rainbow Wrack, Cystoseira tamariscifolia, covered with Lance-shaped Eyelash Weed, Calliblepharis jubata, on the lowershore at Chimney Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall, 14.02.17.

Spider crab
Macropodia deflexa
- with Harpoon Weed 1

Spider crab
Macropodia deflexa
- with Harpoon Weed on leg 1

Specimen above was found under a rock on the lowershore at Hannafore, Looe, Cornwall, 30.03.17.

Spider crab
Macropodia deflexa
- with Bugula neritina 1

Specimen above is a berried female and was found with a covering of the non-native bryozoan Bugula neritina at Newlyn Marina, Newlyn, Cornwall, 31.07.17.

Please note, spider crabs can be quite tricky to identify with any certainty because of a covering of algae. This means verification from images may be impossible. It may be necessary to remove some of the algae with fine tweezers in order to identify weed covered specimens using a stereomicroscope and key. It is too easy to assume specimens are the common Macropodia rostrata, when they may not be, and detailed examination is important if under-recorded species are to be found and identified.

The parasitic barnacle, Drepanorchis neglecta can be found attached to the abdomen of Macropodia species.

APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.