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What does a spider crab look like? The world's largest crab

In this list of the creepiest representatives of the world of invertebrate animals, we will take a virtual journey throughout our planet and get acquainted with the real record holders, who turned out to be the largest mollusks, crayfish, spiders and centipedes. The sizes of some of them sometimes exceed even the size of small dogs, and some will be bigger than a man. Just imagine these giant creatures without backbones, crawling, swimming and running all over the Earth!

10. Japanese spider crab

This is the largest representative of the group of arthropods known to science. Japanese spider crab or Macrocheira kaempferi- an ideal candidate for main role in some sci-fi thriller, because this incredible animal weighs up to 20 kilograms, and the length of its body, including its legs, sometimes reaches as much as 4 meters! The spider crab is loaded to a depth of 150 to 800 meters. The creature is covered with a strong shell, but what is most impressive is its disproportionately long legs, which it uses especially actively during hunting, easily capturing its prey with them. The legs of this arthropod are armed with powerful and very sharp claws, which allows the crab to include in its diet not only plants and the remains of other animals, but also mollusks, the shells of which it has learned to open independently in order to get to the nutritious “stuffing”.

The Japanese spider crab sets sail not only to hunt, but also to practice the art of camouflage, for which it even received the title of “decorator crab.” All kinds of sea shells, algae, sponges and sea anemones often grow directly into the shell of this giant creature, which helps it literally merge with the seabed and resemble an ordinary underwater rock. But these largest crustacean creatures on Earth begin their existence with a simple microscopic larva, more reminiscent of plankton than the embryo of a future giant crab. The larva drifts across the ocean until it grows large enough to choose its own path, spreading its giant legs and grabbing everything edible around them.

9. Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish, Astacopsis gouldi

Black, sleek and armed with huge, terrifying claws - all this is about the Tasmanian giant crayfish, the largest freshwater representative of its order. The huge lobster looks like a prop created to intimidate an impressionable public, although it is still a very real animal, growing up to 80 centimeters in length and weighing up to 5 kilograms. Astacopsis gouldi is found only in the Tasmanian region. By the way, this holder of the title of the largest freshwater invertebrate on the planet, ironically, lives in rather small rivers.

Despite the fact that an encounter with such a monster can threaten a person with serious injury, today these freshwater creatures are under threat of destruction precisely because of people. Overfishing seriously damaged the number of large mature individuals, which, together with the destruction of their natural environment habitat sent the species straight to the International Red Book list. Giant freshwater crayfish need cool and clean water, and there are fewer and fewer such sources in Tasmania, and in wild conditions Now there are no more than 100 thousand individuals.

The extinction of the species worried environmental agencies, and they even introduced a ban on catching these rare crayfish. Deforestation in the most vulnerable areas was also limited. It is deforestation (cutting down trees) that often causes either swamping of the area or drought, and inevitably leads to loss of protection from the scorching sun, but without shade there can be no coolness in the forest. The law on the protection of the giant freshwater crayfish has been in force since 1998. average life expectancy rare species is approximately 30 years old, males reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 years, and females at 14 years. All this means that these creatures are still in dire need of conservation measures to ensure unhindered reproduction and restoration of the affected population.

8. Giant hunting spider, Heteropoda maxima

This species was discovered by German arachnologist Peter Jager during his Laotian expedition in 2001. The giant hunting spider is still little known, but this is not for long, because it turned out to be the largest spider in the world - the span of the limbs of this invertebrate can reach as much as 30 centimeters. A distinctive feature of Heteropoda maxima is the tiger pattern of black, beige and red shades that adorns its cephalothorax, paws and abdomen. The diet of this spider is very diverse, and it got its name from its aggressive and energetic hunting style, because instead of the traditional weaving of webs and waiting in ambush, the arthropod predator prefers to be the first to take the initiative and catches up with its victims without the help of nets.

The giant hunting spider runs very fast and can move not only back and forth, but also sideways, like crabs, in which these amazing spiders help it long paws with curved joints, extremely advantageously located along its entire length. Speed, agility, an eerie hypnotic gaze and protruding fangs leave the victim virtually no chance of survival. By the way, male giant hunting spiders have longer legs than females, but the body is larger in females.

In itself, such a recent discovery of the Heteropoda maxima spider gives reason to assume that many more incredible discoveries await us ahead, and not related to some microscopic creatures, but to the real giants of the world of invertebrate animals.

7. Giant scolopendra

Centipedes are simply the creepiest creatures, and because of their strong poison and agility, they are sometimes extremely dangerous even for humans. Scolopendras come in very different sizes, and their hunting instincts are so strong that they can make even the most experienced expert on arthropods. The largest and most terrible centipede in the world is the Amazonian giant scolopendra or Scolopendra gigantean. This invertebrate creature preys not only on insects, but can even kill small birds and mice. Its bite can be fatal even to humans! Although more often it threatens pain, swelling, redness of the skin, and less often – fever and weakness. By the way, this centipede was called gigantic quite deservedly - some grow up to 35 centimeters in length, so such creatures look like real monsters from horror films...

The giant scolopendra is found not only in the Amazon region, but also in some other regions South America, including Jamaica and Trinidad. The most spectacular thing can be called the hunt of these predators for bats. Amazonian centipedes climb into dark caves, crawl along the walls onto the ceilings of these underground systems and hang from them, clinging to the arches with their strong hind legs in order to pounce on unsuspecting bats right in flight. The victim is immobilized by the powerful venom of the centipede, which it injects into the mouse using its fangs, which are modified forelimbs (maxillae).

Dangerous claws can easily pierce human skin, which inevitably threatens damage chemical mixture, which contains complex amino acids and substances that adversely affect the functions of the heart muscle. Such a cocktail is certain death for almost any bird, mammal, and even some snakes that dare to encroach on the delicious scolopendra. In addition to their venom, these centipedes present great danger and because of their manner of attack - during the fight they dig into the victim (or enemy) with literally all their legs, leaving her no chance of escape.

6. Giant African centipede, Archispirostreptus gigas

Centipedes are considered to be tiny creatures, but the rightly named giant Archispirostreptus gigas is a true giant of the centipede world! The creepy-looking creature grows up to 38-39 centimeters in length, and it has truly countless legs - as many as thousands! The invertebrate lives in the subtropical rain forests of West Africa, preferring warm, dark and humid places. The giant African centipede is a detritivore, meaning that it has adapted to feed on decaying organic materials, mostly of plant origin. The body of Archispirostreptus gigas is covered with massive plates. Like most other centipedes, this arthropod is extremely flexible, capable of wriggling and curling into a ball, which makes it not such an easy prey for predators. If acrobatic tricks do not help, the animal secretes a toxic liquid.

These centipedes should not be confused with poisonous centipedes, which infect with their chemical weapons during the hunt, injecting them into the body of the victim. powerful fangs during a bite. The giant African centipede uses the toxin only for self-defense, its jaw is quite weak for serious bites, and its secretions are dangerous only to the integumentary tissues, eyes or gastrointestinal tract. However, the queen of centipedes, as biologists secretly call her, has another weapon. Disturbed by a predator or a curious naturalist, this arthropod sometimes releases a highly volatile and extremely unpleasant-smelling substance - hydrocyanic acid, which causes intoxication. varying degrees gravity.

Giant centipede- a nocturnal animal, she avoids daytime days, when there is a much greater risk of encountering predators, and prefers to crawl through the forest in search of rotting plants and fruits under the cover of darkness. Centipedes are very unusual animals, and their respiratory system is of particular interest to biologists. To breathe, these invertebrate creatures literally absorb air with their entire bodies through small holes (spiracles). That is why, in conditions of excessive humidity, they can even suffocate.

5. Antarctic giant squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni

This is not just the most majestic squid on Earth, it is the largest invertebrate animal on the planet! Good news– it lives in very remote waters in the Antarctic region, so you are not in danger of encountering it on a hot beach. At least these squids have so far only been encountered in the frostiest corners of the Earth.

The species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni still remains poorly studied. The estimated maximum length of the entire body is up to 10 meters, and weight is up to 495 kilograms. Even the eyes of this Antarctic giant are the largest eyes of any life form on the planet, measuring up to 27 centimeters in diameter. If you are still not completely impressed, it’s time to be horrified, because the tentacles and powerful beak of the giant, armed with sharp and maneuverable hooks, are so dangerous that they can cause quite significant injuries even to the sperm whales that hunt them. Scientists have repeatedly noted characteristic scars on the skin of giant whales, presumably from collisions with giant clams (the type to which Antarctic squid belongs).

Giant squids are of great interest to science due to their rarity and difficult-to-reach habitat for humans. Today, researchers have at their disposal a rather modest collection of remains of this species and very little experience in studying living individuals. However, we already know that the females of Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni usually grow larger than the males, and also that the predator that grows to such incredible dimensions, preferring to attack from an ambush, owes its unique appearance to a phenomenon called abyssal gigantism (change in size as the depth of the range increases).

4. Giant Australian Trumpeter, Syrinx aruanus

We most often encounter snails in gardens, parks and forests, some even eat them (the French simply adore them), and everyone has long been accustomed to the fact that they are usually small slugs with “horns” hiding in beautiful shells. But it's time to change your perception of what snails are like outside your yard. For example, this giant lives in the coastal waters of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and today Syrinx aruanus is recognized as the world's largest gastropod (snail). The giant Australian whelk is a carnivore that remains little studied by biologists, but has long been popular among private collectors for its stunning shells. The size of these “houses” is tens of centimeters, and the largest individual, known to science, grew a shell 91 centimeters long! Together with its amazing protective shell, the animal can weigh up to 18 kilograms.

Giant Australian whelks have adapted to feed on huge sea worms, although it is possible that more careful observations will reveal many new and interesting things to scientists about them. Today we know not so much about these giants, because Australian trumpeters are quite rare, and may need environmental status. As in the case of some lungfishes, trumpeters are characterized by direct development without a larval stage. The female lays eggs, from which fully formed tiny snails hatch, and the new generation remains to live in the same place where it was born. This greatly distinguishes the giant Australian whelks from most other mollusks, which in the larval stage swim through the seas like plankton, colonizing remote or depleted regions in need of enrichment with new bioforms. Australian trumpeters live mainly in shallow waters and dive no deeper than 50 meters. These mollusks were called trumpeters because external resemblance their shells with a well-known musical instrument.

3. Palm thief, Birgus latro

As we already know, the title of the largest crab in the world was given to the Japanese spider crab, which you met at the very beginning of this collection. In the third paragraph we will talk about another unique species - the hermit crab, which lives mainly on land and is recognized as the world's largest terrestrial arthropod. The palm thief is a real record holder, because its body length reaches up to 40 centimeters. Charles Darwin himself called these crabs monsters! Birgus latro is the only species of hermit crab that climbs trees. His climbing skills are truly amazing and save this creature from almost any threat. Invertebrate animal found on the islands Indian Ocean and in the western Pacific. It feeds not only on coconuts that have fallen to the ground, which it quickly opens with powerful claws, but also on other crabs or food left by people.

By the way, coconuts are not only the favorite food of palm thieves, but also their favorite construction material. These crabs are known for hiding in shallow burrows, which they line the inside with fibers from coconut shells. Unlike regular hermit crabs, palm thieves quickly abandon the use of empty shells sea mollusks, because as they grow older, they acquire their own fairly durable calcified exoskeleton, which can protect them from everyday dangers no worse than someone else’s shell. For example, if a crab falls while climbing trees, this strong shield saves it from serious injury, and it always crawls away from the landing site practically unharmed.

According to reports from experts of the International Red Book, information on the population size of this species is insufficient to recommend its special protection to the relevant agencies. However, it is already known that in Australia and Madagascar people are so actively exploring new territories that all these crabs have practically survived from there. Previously, it was believed that palm thieves suffer most from the appearance of artificially introduced predators (rats) in their habitat. However, observations showed that these extraordinary arthropods from time to time began to hunt fertile rodents themselves. Surprisingly, such large terrestrial animals begin their lives as small larvae barely visible to the naked eye, swimming in the sea with plankton until they develop sufficiently to get out onto land and climb trees.

2. Giant forest scorpion, Heterometrus

Scorpions of almost any size inspire fear in people, but representatives of this species are truly creepy and dangerous creatures. They say that even hiking boots with an iron plate on the toe can suffer from their power. Adults grow up to 18 centimeters in length, and the record holder is the giant forest scorpion discovered in the 1940s - a whopping 292 millimeters in length! Heterometrus swammerdami, found in India and Sri Lanka, is the world's largest scorpion. They weigh approximately 55 grams and are not very poisonous, because their main weapon is powerful claws that easily crush tasty prey.

Giant forest scorpions are usually black in color. The pair of impressive claws seems disproportionately large for the body of this animal. The well-known poisonous sting is also crowned with a disproportionately thick tail. The poison of this species is not as concentrated and dangerous as the toxins of smaller scorpions, because during hunting and self-defense, the arthropod can do without “ chemical weapons"Thanks to his energy and strength. However, given the size of this invertebrate, there is a lot of poison in it, so that a disturbed forest scorpion is capable of punishing its opponent with a very significant dose toxic substances. Incredibly, giant forest scorpions are popular pets among exotic animal connoisseurs and sophisticated arthropod collectors. Remember, keeping such creatures in home terrariums is an unsafe hobby that requires compliance with safety precautions to avoid injury.

1. Giant isopods, Bathynomus giganteus

No, this is not a magnified image of a microscopic tick, not a monster from an alien movie, or an extinct prehistoric creature. This giant isopod. Isopods may not be the most famous animals, but they are still one of the fairly common inhabitants of our planet, and just thinking about it makes you a little uncomfortable. The most familiar relatives of this species are common woodlice. In the scientific classification, giant isopods are classified as crustaceans.

An experienced forager and scavenger, this armored isopod prefers to feast on not only dead fish, but also the remains of whales. However, giant isopods are quite omnivorous, because with their powerful jaws they are capable of tearing apart quite a variety of prey and have learned to use them as real multi-tools. Sometimes giant isopods even attack fish caught in the nets of passing trawlers. It turns out that they are not such humble scavengers, and from time to time they even become cunning thieves.

Giant isopods are found throughout the world. The largest representatives of this species grow up to 50 centimeters in length, which is typical for such a phenomenon as deep-sea gigantism. The isopod Bathynomus giganteus is a solitary species and prefers to live at depths from 170 to 2140 meters.

The overlapping segments of the exoskeleton of these creepy invertebrates in the facial part have special slits for the eyes, the description of which is worth dwelling on separately. The compound eyes of giant isopods contain a special reflective layer called tapetum, which causes their glowing effect in the underwater twilight. IN Everyday life We are more accustomed to observing this phenomenon using the example of cats. The reflective shell helps the deep-sea giants see in the near-bottom darkness, and at the same time adds even more creepiness to them.

Still think that crab is just an exquisite delicacy? How do you like the Japanese spider crab or giant crab (lat. Macrocheira kaempfer), whose body length together with paws is 4 meters? By the way, it is considered the largest representative of arthropods on our planet.

However, the giant crab is still eaten. True, for fishing they choose very young individuals who have not yet had time to give birth to offspring: their meat, you see, is tender and soft. Of course, this greatly affects the total number of Japanese crabs.

Let's find out more about them...

I saw this photo on the Internet a long time ago and assumed that it was some kind of photoshop or a stuffed animal

The Japanese spider crab is a species of crustacean from the infraorder of crabs (Brachyura). Its scientific Latin name Macrocheira kaempferi was named after the German traveler and naturalist Engelbert Kaempfer, who lived in Lemgo, Germany, and was described in 1836 by zoologist Conrad Jacob Temminck from Holland. This is one of the largest representatives of the world's arthropod fauna. The largest individuals of the Japanese spider crab reach 45 cm in carapace length, and the span of the first pair of legs reaches 3 m, and the maximum length of the body with legs reaches 4 m. The crab is equipped with a very powerful weapon- 40 cm claws.

The Japanese spider crab lives in Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan at various depths. Its body weight reaches 20 kg. Average length The cephalothorax (body) without legs is 30-35 cm. The optimal depth of their habitat is 150-300 m, but more often they are found at a depth of about 200-300 m. And only during reproduction during oviposition in the spring, the Japanese spider crab rises to 50 m.

It feeds mainly on mollusks, as well as the remains of dead animals. It is believed that the Japanese spider crab lives up to 100 years.

The Japanese spider crab is widely used for food, scientific and ornamental purposes, and is often kept in large aquariums. In the spring, during oviposition, crab fishing is completely prohibited. This is the only one modern look genus Macrocheira. But in ancient times, its other relatives lived, since there are two reports of fossil finds of the species †M. longirostra and †M. teglandi. The taxonomy of these crustaceans has not yet been fully established, therefore this genus is classified either in the family Inachidae or Majidae, or in an independent family Macrocheiridae Dana, 1851.

This largest representative of arthropods can most easily be found in the area of the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. Here, adult individuals are most often used as a very decorative and unusual animal for aquariums. These giants are truly exotic decorations for any interior. The size of this “monster” is truly amazing, since the Japanese spider crab, also called a giant crab (in English: Giant spider crab) with elongated limbs can reach 4 m! Moreover, males are larger than females.

The largest adult crabs are not suitable for fishing, as they say that their meat is already tasteless. And all due to the fact that they live at a fairly large depth where they most often feed on carrion (fish and shellfish), which over time gives the crab meat a bitter taste. Young crabs that have not yet reached sexual maturity and have not brought offspring are used for fishing.

It is their meat that is considered very tender and is a delicacy everywhere, which greatly influences the reduction of their population. This is why Japanese spider crabs need protection, especially during oviposition in the spring when they gather in shallow water. During spawning, females lay about 1.5 million eggs, but only a small proportion of them survive to adulthood. The Japanese spider crab becomes sexually mature approximately when it reaches 10 years of age. Although average duration Their lifespan is 50 years, but sometimes there are specimens up to a hundred years old. ……

The first biologist to publish a description of the amazing creature was the German naturalist and explorer Engelbert Kampfer. Since then, namely in 1727, the giant crab has become known to Western scientists. For the first time, information about a huge spider crab is found in ancient Japanese literature. The spider crab got its name because there is an amazing similarity with the insect of the same name.

A record crab was recently caught. This huge crab has already received the nickname "Crab Kong" » , but it will still grow. Size giant crab reaches 3 meters in diameter, and when it becomes an adult, it will be able to ride a car.

The Japanese spider crab was caught in the Suraga Bay area southwest of Tokyo. The gastronomic qualities of spider crab are highly valued, and it was originally planned to make soup from it.

Luckily for the crab, the fishermen contacted biologist Robin James from Weymouth Sea Life, who visited the village just a few weeks ago.

And the 40-year-old crab, before moving permanently to Munich, is the centerpiece of a Dorset theme park.

Weymouth Sea Life employees are confident that Crab Kong has “outdone” its 15kg predecessor Crabzilla ( Crabzilla) and is the largest crab ever seen in captivity.

The head and thorax of Japanese crabs are covered with a flat and short carapace, which ends in a spiny ostrostrum. Top part The carapace is equipped with numerous tubercles and spines that serve as protection. The weight of these terrible giants easily reaches 20 kg.

Interestingly, this species belongs to the order of decapods, and this is already one of the most famous orders of crustaceans. Our familiar crayfish, which has long become a character in many children's fairy tales, also belongs to this group. Who would have thought that he had such an outstanding relative!

The giant crab is the only known member of the genus Macrocheira, but two fossil finds of its close relatives (†M. longirostra and †M. Teglandi) have been reported. Who knows, maybe some interesting relative of the Japanese spider crab will be discovered at great depths.

Giant Crab in Blackpool | Source: Dave Thompson/PA

Senior Curator of Marine Animals Chris Brown prepares for the relocation of a Japanese spider crab called 'Big Daddy' to a new home at the Marine Animal Center in Blackpool. A giant Japanese spider crab with a claw span of three meters will now take up residence in the Golden Mile enclosure. This is the largest crab living in a zoo in Europe.

The giant spider crab is so huge that if it wanted to walk along the shore, it could theoretically step over a small van of vacationers. Luckily for us, he remains underwater.

At a depth high pressure, but a layer of durable chitin protects the shell from being pressed in. The spider crab's leg joints are designed to allow it to move only sideways. Smooth cartilage surfaces reduce friction. Two muscles within each leg segment attach to rods in the next segment. One muscle flexes the joint, the second one straightens it again.

Did you know?

A young spider crab can only grow to adult size if it sheds its hard outer shell. The old shell is discarded, revealing the soft inner shell, which the crab swells to a large size before it hardens.

If a spider crab accidentally loses a leg, it grows a new one that gets longer with each molt.

Some species of spider crabs protect themselves by resting near sea anemones Snakelock, and are apparently immune to their burns. Having settled with its back to the central stem of the anemone, the crab is almost completely hidden from view by the tentacles of the anemone hanging over it.

Sometimes spider crabs find themselves washed ashore during the surf, in ponds between rocks, but they cannot survive out of the water.

One type of spider crab feeds on plankton. It hangs from the algae, grasping it with its hind legs, and with its massive claws “sifts” the water in search of edible pieces.

Insects and invertebrates do not always look harmless. Some look like this, for example. This list is quite subjective, but I think many will agree with it.

10 Giant isopod

What's most unnerving about this isopod is that it resembles a common woodlice. The giant isopod lives in the ocean at depths from 200 m to 2000 m. While the common woodlouse reaches a length of 1-2 cm, the giant isopod grows up to 60 cm. There are several species of isopod, of which Bathynomus is the most famous. The isopod appeared about 160 million years ago and has changed little since then. Since these invertebrates are scavengers, they will not harm humans. Keeping them in an aquarium is not at all interesting due to their slow lifestyle.

9 Japanese spider crab

The Japanese spider crab has the longest legs of any arthropod. The largest American lobsters can compete with these crabs in weight, but not in length. The spider crab is an omnivore and will eat anything it can grab with its large claws. There is various debate about why they evolved such long limbs, most likely it allows them to move faster. It was reported on the Internet that crabs were also seen on land, but this is almost incredible, since it is very difficult for them to move outside of water.

8 Giant weta

The giant weta, living in New Zealand, is the heaviest insect in the world. The largest weighed 71 g, and some reach 8 inches (20.32 cm). This is an example of island gigantism. The giant weta feeds on plants, but it powerful jaws They can seriously bite. But this is unlikely. The giant weta lives only on Little Barrier Island. However, other species are common throughout New Zealand.

7 Locust

Locusts are giant grasshoppers; there is practically no difference between them, only in swarming and size. These are very annoying creatures! When flying, they make a buzzing sound and when they land on your clothing, they cling to it so that it is impossible to tear them off. It is very unpleasant to be in their swarm. Locust swarms typically number in the billions, consuming millions of tons of crops along the way.

6 Arctic cyanea

The largest cyanea is 37 m long from the dome to the tips of the tentacles. The diameter of the dome can reach 2 m. Long tentacles catch small animals, but can also be a refuge for shrimp. Cyanea is not dangerous to humans, but its bite can cause a rash and allergies. The larger the jellyfish grow, the darker their color becomes; the largest specimens have a dark bloody color. Like all jellyfish, cyanides drift with the current and can only contract their dome slightly to stay close to the surface.

5 Goliath tarantula spider

This is the heaviest famous spider, whose weight can reach 180 g. They were considered the most big spiders in the world before the giant hunter was discovered in Laos. Goliath is more common and can be kept as exotic pet. It is known as a tarantula, as it sometimes preys on small birds, as well as small mammals and lizards. The diet of the tarantula spider includes, in most cases, insects, but these spiders can also bite humans, and their bite is poisonous. When in danger, Goliath makes a hissing sound by rubbing its legs together. This way the spider leaves behind its hairs, which can be very annoying.

4 Giant sea spider

Little is known about sea spiders. The giant sea spider is the largest representative of these organisms, about 30 cm long. These are not real spiders, although they are somewhat related to them. Their bodies are so small that some of their organs are located in their legs and gonads. Intestinal tract dotted with sacs reaching the legs, where food is digested. Sea spiders They feed on cnidarians, sucking out their insides with a sharp proboscis.

3 Asian giant hornet

Giant hornet- the most dangerous animal in Japan. Any bite is very painful and can be fatal even for people who do not suffer from allergies. Almost 5 cm long, these hornets look very scary when they fly near your face. They kill other insects and destroy bee hives by crushing the bees in their jaws before eating all the honey and carrying off the bees' bellies to their larvae. However, Japanese bees have protection against hornets. When they spot an enemy, they surround him and sting the muscles responsible for flight. Which is what kills the hornet.

2 Giant centipede

The Amazonian giant centipede is the first invertebrate capable of causing real harm to humans. It lives in northern South America and several islands. The centipede preys on insects, spiders, lizards, frogs, birds, mice and bats. There is something creepy about an invertebrate preying on a vertebrate. The centipede moves quickly and is not afraid of humans. Its bite is very painful, but not fatal.

1 Colossal Squid

What's bigger than a giant squid? Only the colossal squid, considered the heaviest cephalopod and also the largest invertebrate. For a long time stories about the giant squid were considered simply sea tales. Several species are now known, both giant and colossal squid. The National New Zealand Museum in Wellington is hosting an exhibition where you can see a 10-meter specimen. And it's far from the biggest. This squid was caught in 2007 by fishermen in the Antarctic Ocean. Colossal squid use bioluminescence to attract fish.

Incredible facts

However, as stated Paul Clark(Paul Clark), expert from Natural History Museum in London, this the photograph is nothing more than a hoax.

The largest crabs

He makes the following arguments:

1. The most big crab in the world counts Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), which can grow to the size of a small car.

With a leg span it can reach 4 meters. However, these crabs live in the deep, cold waters near Japan, and they have a completely different shape.

2. Another crab whose shape is similar to the one in the picture is giant Tasmanian crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas). These are the heaviest crabs in the world and live in the southern waters of Australia at depths of 20-820 meters.

3. Also, this crab does not belong to the species pocket crab (Cancer pagurus), which has a slightly different shape and grows up to 30 cm.

4. The crab is most similar to the representative grass crab (Carcinus maenas), which was placed onto a satellite image using Photoshop. These crabs grow to only 5 cm.

5. Also, several users pointed out that the image of the harbor was taken from Bing Maps, where there is no crab.

Insects and invertebrates do not always look harmless. Some look like this, for example. This list is quite subjective, but I think many will agree with it.

Giant isopod

Japanese spider crab

Giant weta

The giant weta, living in New Zealand, is the heaviest insect in the world. Welcome to the website https://hot-love.org where the best prostitutes of Odessa are collected. Convenient search and a large selection of profiles will help you choose the girl you like the most. In order to meet a girl, just dial the phone number indicated in the profile. To meet a prostitute, either your apartment or hers is suitable. The largest weighed 71 g, and some reach 8 inches (20.32 cm). This is an example of island gigantism. The giant weta feeds on plants, but its powerful jaws can also bite seriously. But this is unlikely. The giant weta lives only on Little Barrier Island. However, other species are common throughout New Zealand.

Locust

Arctic cyanea

Goliath tarantula spider

They are the heaviest known spider and can weigh up to 180g. They were considered the largest spiders in the world before the giant hunter was discovered in Laos. Goliath is more common and can be kept as an exotic pet. It is known as a tarantula, as it sometimes preys on small birds, as well as small mammals and lizards. The diet of the tarantula spider includes, in most cases, insects, but these spiders can also bite humans, and their bite is poisonous. When in danger, Goliath makes a hissing sound by rubbing its legs together. This way the spider leaves behind its hairs, which can be very annoying.

Giant sea spider

Little is known about sea spiders. The giant sea spider is the largest representative of these organisms, about 30 cm long. These are not real spiders, although they are somewhat related to them. Their bodies are so small that some of their organs are located in their legs and gonads. The intestinal tract is dotted with pouches that reach the legs, where food is digested. Sea spiders feed on cnidarians, sucking out their insides with a sharp proboscis.

Asian giant hornet

The giant hornet is the most dangerous animal in Japan. Any bite is very painful and can be fatal even for people who do not suffer from allergies. Almost 5 cm long, these hornets look very scary when they fly near your face. They kill other insects and destroy bee hives by crushing the bees in their jaws before eating all the honey and carrying off the bees' bellies to their larvae. However, Japanese bees have protection against hornets. When they spot an enemy, they surround him and sting the muscles responsible for flight. Which is what kills the hornet.

Giant centipede

Colossal squid

What's bigger than a giant squid? Only the colossal squid, considered the heaviest cephalopod and also the largest invertebrate. For a long time, stories about the giant squid were considered simply sea stories. Several species are now known, both giant and colossal squid. The National New Zealand Museum in Wellington is hosting an exhibition where you can see a 10-meter specimen. And it's far from the biggest. This squid was caught in 2007 by fishermen in the Antarctic Ocean. Colossal squid use bioluminescence to attract fish.

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