General Description

Carapace flat with a pattern of white and brown or red. Three short spikes (prongs) between the eyes. Legs very thin. Up to 1 cm wide (carapace).

Biology

Three-pronged Spider Crabs are cryptic, hiding between fronds of seaweed and seagrass. They are presumed to be scavengers but might be micropredators. They feature in the diet of several species of bottom feeding fishes. Despite their common name, they are crabs and are not closely related to the true Sea Spiders (the Pycnogonids).

Distribution

Southern Australia.

Habitat

Muddy seagrass or algae areas on shallow reefs, to depth of 85 m.

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