Abstract
The giant spider crab, Macrocheira kaenpferi, Takaashigani (Japanese name) is the largest of all living Arthropoda. The leg span of a large adult male is 4 meters. This crab is found along the Pacific coast of Japan, from Kamaishi to Kyusyu districts at depths ranging from 50 to 400 meters. Studies on both spawning and the early larvae forms of the crab were reported before. We have now succeeded in rearing this crab from, the megalopa stage to the juvenile stage. This short report is dealt with these result and some other observations.
