Grotesque Forward Walking Spanner Crabs
August 15th 2008 07:07
Spanner crabs (Ranina ranina) are so named for their claws which are shaped like an adjustable spanner (wrench).They have a bright red shell, usually with white dots, and they move forwards and backwards, rather than sideways like other crabs. Males grow to about 15 cm across, females to about 11.5 cm.
These grotesquely shaped crustaceans are found on the east and west coasts of Australia, from Yeppoon in Queensland to Nowra in New South Wales and from Quinn Rocks north of Perth to Geraldton in Western Australia.
Inhabiting intertidal waters to depths of more than 100 metres, spanner crabs are usually found buried in sand where they feed on a wide variety of bottom-dwelling species.
QLD DPI&F
In Queensland, the commercial fishery is heavily managed and spanner-crabbers are required to use dillies. Spanner crabs are harvested all year round except during a one month spawning season from 20 November to 20 December. Most of the Queensland catch is taken in deep oceanic waters south of Yeppoon. Spanner crabs must be a minimum of 10 cm in length across the carapace
The bulk of the catch is exported as live product to eastern Asia, mainly Taiwan. The crabs are cooled to about 15° C and packed in polystyrene boxes for transportation by air. A small quantity of crab is also sold as chilled cooked product on local markets.
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