The Japanese spider crab lives in the waters near Japan and has the largest leg span of any arthropod, reaching up to 5.5 metres (18 ft). Despite looking ferocious, the crab has been reported to have a gentle disposition.
So far, the world’s largest known living arthropod is the Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), a huge crab that may live up to 100 years. Let’s meet this leggy denizen of the deep.