Melbourne's newest residents walk sideways and get pretty crabby if you get in their way.
The world's largest crab, the Japanese spider crab, has landed at Melbourne Aquarium along with some crustacean friends.
The aquarium secured the crabs from Japan, possibly saving the giants of the deep from a Japanese dinner plate.
The crabs are a delicacy but can live for up to 100 years if they evade fishermen.
They creep around their specially designed deep-water tank, using long spindly legs to scale the walls like a spider.
Exhibit manager Tereza Todd said crustaceans were under threat and the exhibit would introduce awareness about sustainability.
"Since the introduction of commercial fishing the numbers and life span of crustaceans has dropped considerably," Ms Todd said.
The new exhibit also has a display tank made to look like a tropical beach, from where the tiny eyes of the fiddler crab and hermit crab follow visitors around the room.
The exhibit has opened in time for the school holidays and the Japanese spider crab is set to be a permanent resident of Melbourne's Sea Life Aquarium.
Share
