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Japanese Porcupine Crab

Neolithodes asperrimus

Deep sea Japanese Porcupine Crab specimen

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Abyssal Stats

Depth

400–1,500 m (1,300–4,900 ft)

Size

Up to 30 cm (12 in)

Habitat

Rocky Seafloor

Diet

Detritus and small invertebrates

What they'd be sayin'

"I am covered in long, sharp spines that make me look like a deep-sea porcupine."

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Deep Sea Profile

A deep-sea king crab variant covered in dense, protective spines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why the spines?

They provide a passive defense against predators in an environment where speed is not an option.

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