July 13, 2009

Rough rear

This is the Giant Japanese Spider Crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) at the Manila Ocean Park. According to the sign beside its tank, it is the largest living arthropod in the world and is believed to have a life expectancy of up to 100 years. Because it is a particularly old species of crab, it is often referred to as a living fossil. I think he got tired of all the people staring at him and all I could photograph was his rear end.

Giant Japanese Spider Crab

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Odd Shots Monday

31 comments:

  1. PatyJuly 13, 2009 at 2:06 AM

    very nice!!

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  2. BeckyJuly 13, 2009 at 3:41 AM

    What a beautiful crab! I love the orange on him. Funny that he wouldn't give you a face view though.

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  3. crocrodylJuly 13, 2009 at 4:41 AM

    Great shot! It is really huge:)

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  4. LoisJuly 13, 2009 at 5:02 AM

    I had no idea they lived that long! He's a beautiful color.

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  5. AnonymousJuly 13, 2009 at 5:27 AM

    I guess something that old has a right to turn around and walk away. LOL

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  6. marleyJuly 13, 2009 at 5:36 AM

    He showed you his best side! He is one ugly guy!

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  7. VPJuly 13, 2009 at 5:56 AM

    I like your photo and the colors, but this kind of creature is a bit weird to me.

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  8. Leif HagenJuly 13, 2009 at 5:56 AM

    Oh, Hilda! Don't be so crabby! Cheer up! Ha!

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  9. UnknownJuly 13, 2009 at 6:34 AM

    I don't know if it is the same species, but I've seen (and eaten...) huge crabs like this one in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego (Patagonia, Argentina). Do you know where this is from?

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  10. LowellJuly 13, 2009 at 8:02 AM

    One more thing I've never seen before...and he's probably just a wee bit older than I am!

    Nice photo with great color, Hilda!

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  11. NevaJuly 13, 2009 at 8:52 AM

    What a great photo! Not sure I want to meet him in person but he is very colorful!!!

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  12. JamesJuly 13, 2009 at 9:19 AM

    Somebody pass the drawn butter.

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  13. KaoriJuly 13, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    You're right, it DOES look like it's pouting :)

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  14. Clueless in BostonJuly 13, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    We would say in Boston he was giving you the bum's rush:)

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  15. OlivierJuly 13, 2009 at 12:39 PM

    superbe photo, on dirait une "araignée". cela doit être bon à manger ;o))
    superb photograph, they would say a "spider". it must goot be eat ;o))

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  16. Don and KriseJuly 13, 2009 at 1:59 PM

    Not exactly a handsome fellow now is he? He is colorful though.

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  17. escapeJuly 13, 2009 at 2:12 PM

    hahaha.... yes. most of the time it's facing the glass. well after months of exposure seems like it's tired of seeing people.

    in some country they actually have it as a special delicacy.

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  18. CJJuly 13, 2009 at 4:44 PM

    Nice photo. When I was teaching art, we were drawing sea creatures and I kept assuring the students that they couldn't think up anything odder than what really exists in the ocean.

    I'm sponsoring my first GIVEAWAY. Join in
    HERE.

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  19. MoJuly 13, 2009 at 5:35 PM

    Looks rather scary but they taste delicious

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  20. The ExplorerJuly 13, 2009 at 6:27 PM

    very odd creatures, i also had a chance to see this.

    thanks for dropping by to my blog site

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  21. pennyJuly 13, 2009 at 8:48 PM

    What a colorful photo of the giant crab, Hilda. Your post reminds me of the phrase 'position in life is everything'... LOL :D

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  22. KatneyJuly 13, 2009 at 10:25 PM

    Very colorful. Deffinitely an odd fellow. How large is he?

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  23. JudyJuly 13, 2009 at 11:16 PM

    I guess he is lucky to have ended up in the tank instead of on a plate. Cute post.

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  24. HalcyonJuly 13, 2009 at 11:39 PM

    Maybe he considers the rear his better side. :)

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  25. MirelaJuly 14, 2009 at 2:52 AM

    That crab is supposed to be Japanese??? We have it in the Adriatic sea too... weird... although, here they don't grow that large. Maybe they're cousins... :)

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  26. GeorgeJuly 14, 2009 at 2:56 AM

    Even its rear end is colorful.

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  27. Louis la VacheJuly 14, 2009 at 10:01 AM

    hee hee hee...
    A little different take on a "Moon Shot."

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  28. AnonymousJuly 14, 2009 at 11:02 AM

    100 years???? wow!!!!
    cool post!!!

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  29. DinaJuly 15, 2009 at 4:22 AM

    Don't blame him for turning his back on the gawkers. Interesting stuff here. A living fossil, cool.

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  30. AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 7:50 AM

    I thought my butt was big :)

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  31. AnonymousJuly 18, 2009 at 5:42 AM

    Looking extra ordinary,necessary steps should be taken to preserve it .

    peter

    ------------
    Free Satellite TV

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