Spiny Spider Crab Maja brachydactyla/Maja squinado

The Spiny Spider Crab, also called the European Spider Crab, was divided into two species in the 1990s. They look similar. Maja squinado is native to the Mediterranean and Maja brachydactyla to northeastern Atlantic coasts from western Scotland to Morocco.

As the name suggests, it has long, spider-like legs and a spiny carapace (upper shell). The legs are usually red but sometimes blue-grey; the carapace is usually brown or grey, often covered in algae.

The body can grow to 20cm long. The male, with much larger claws than the female, can reach half a metre wide claw to claw. They migrate to deeper water in autumn and return to coasts in spring.