Amazing Zoology

This article was originally posted at Amazing Zoology . View original article at http://amzoo.in/bnkoi The Japanese spider crab has the greatest leg span of any arthropod, reaching up to 5.5 m from claw to claw. The body may grow to a size of 40 cm in carapace width and the whole crab can weigh up to 19 kilograms, second only to the American lobster among all living arthropod species. This crab was known to the Japanese for the serious injuries it can cause with its strong claws. The Japanese spider crab is occasionally collected for food, and even considered a delicacy in many parts of Japan and other areas in the region. Information Courtesy: Wikipedia

This article was originally posted at Amazing Zoology . View original article at http://amzoo.in/tsbif A giant isopod is any of the almost 20 species of large isopods in the genus Bathynomus. They are abundant in cold, deep waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Bathynomus giganteus, the species upon which the generitype is based, is often considered the largest isopod in the world, though other comparably poorly known species of Bathynomus may reach a similar size. The giant isopods are noted for their resemblance to the much smaller common woodlouse, to which they are related. Giant isopods are a good example of deep-sea gigantism, as they are far larger than the typical isopods that are up to 5 cm. They are infamous for attacking and destroying fish caught in trawls, and they are eaten in Taiwan.

This article was originally posted at Mantis Shrimp Mantis shrimps are marine crustaceans of the order Stomatopoda. They typically grow to around 10 cm in length. The largest mantis shrimp ever caught had a length of 46 cm and was caught in the Indian River near Fort Pierce, Florida, in the United States. A mantis shrimp"s carapace (outer covering) covers only the rear part of the head and the first four segments of the thorax. They are among the most important predators in many shallow, tropical, and sub-tropical marine habitats. However, despite being common, they are poorly understood as many species spend most of their life tucked away in burrows and holes. Mantis shrimps are called "sea locusts" by ancient Assyrians, "prawn killers" in Australia and now sometimes as "thumb splitters" – because of the animal"s ability to inflict painful gashes if handled incautiously. These animals sport powerful claws that are used to attack and kill prey by...