West Indian Spider Crab
Mithrax spinosissimus

f16 @ 1/60s, Kodachrome 64 slide film, ASA 64, Nikonos II w 28mm and Nikon close up kit, Oceanic flash, Ikelite slave flash

\"Mithrax spinosissimus,\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Mithrax spinosissimus, also known as the West Indian spider crab, channel clinging crab, reef or spiny spider crab, or coral crab, is a species of spider crab that occurs throughout South Florida and across the Caribbean Islands. The diet of this crab is largely unknown; however, it is considered a large omnivore, reaching size up to 2 kg, which has been noted to feed on algae and carrion. Unlike crabs such as the blue crab, the West Indian spider crab is not commercially harvested for its meat, though it is said to be delicious. Visual identification: Reddish brown carapace and walking legs. Smooth, purplish gray claws, with a single row of nodules along outer edge. Blunt claw tips. Numerous short spines and nodules cover legs. Largest species of Caribbean reef crab.

Salt River Canyon, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

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