A Japanese spider crab.

Giant crabs with one-metre claw span heading for Great Yarmouth

Thursday, January 3, 2013
10:45 AM

Giant crabs with a one-metre claw-span are set to invade Great Yarmouth.

The world's biggest species of crab will take centre stage in a new £150,000 feature at Great Yarmouth Sealife Centre, appropriately christened 'Claws!'

But residents and visitors need not worry, as the colossal crustaceans will be kept safely behind glass in the resort’s Sea Life Centre.

The world’s biggest species of crab they will take centre stage in a new £150,000 feature appropriately christened ‘Claws!’ and opening to the public in February.

Even the display tanks themselves will be designed to look like giant crabs, and there are other features to give visitors a real insight into how a crab’s claws works and even how it eats.

Japanese spider crabs can reach three metres across when fully grown - big enough to straddle a small car.

Displays supervisor Christine Pitcher said: “They are just one of the species we’ll be featuring though, and the others are also pretty remarkable.

“They include common lobsters and Norway lobsters, better known to most as scampi, and some amazing tropical hermit crabs that spend most of their lives out of water.”