What is the largest type of crab in the world?

The largest type of crab in the world is the Japanese spider crab. The males are larger than the females and can grow to be 12 feet across. Their bodies alone can reach 15 inches in width, and they can weigh up to 44 pounds.

As its name suggest, this unique crab has characteristics similar to a spider, including a small body relative to leg length and tiny spines projecting from its body. Japanese spider crabs live on the Pacific Ocean floor, off the coasts of Japan at depths between 50 to 600 meters. They are bottom-feeding scavengers, meaning that they feed off of dead plant and animal material.