Maja brachydactyla Balss, 1922

Atlantic spinous spider crab

Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050

This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Maja brachydactyla AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

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Image of Maja brachydactyla (Atlantic spinous spider crab)

No image available for this species;
drawing shows typical species in Majidae.

Classification / Names Κοινά ονόματα | Συνώνυμα | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Malacostraca | Decapoda | Majidae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / εύρος βάθους / distribution range Οικολογία

; εύρος βάθους 0 - 80 m (Αναφ. 104052). Temperate

Distribution Χώρες | Περιοχές FAO | Οικοσυστήματα | Παρουσίες | Εισαγωγές

Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean: from the North Sea to Morocco and Bay of Biscay, extending southwards to Namibia including off lying islands.

Length at first maturity / Μέγεθος / Weight / Age

Γεννητική Ωρίμανση: L_m 13.0 range ? - ? cm Max length : 22.0 cm CL αρσενικό/απροσδιόριστο; (Αναφ. 104052)

Maximum depth from Ref. 115714. Juveniles about to reach maturity live in shallow waters from 10 to 15 m deep on rocky and sandy substrates (Ref. 115713). They are also found on sandy bottoms colonized by Zostera marina. During summer, adults live near the shore on rocky areas. In winter, they are spotted on rocky bottoms and heterogeneous coarse sediments in deep waters. Both juveniles and adults during summer are found on muddy sands with few rocks (Ref. 115714). Uses slow, small-scale, non-directional movements. Exhibiting ontogenetic movements, juveniles live at depth of 5 to 15 m; adults then migrate to deeper waters (>50 m), where they mate (Ref. 115713). Diet remains to be accurately described. Studies (i.e. direct field observations, laboratory experiments, and gut content analyses) have suggested the species to have an omnivorous diet based on consumption of prey commonly found in their habitat (Ref. 115714). In one study, however, it was considered a mobile carnivorous species (Ref. 96498). Research using stable isotopes indicate no differences between sexes in diet or habitat use patterns either in adults (Refs. 115714, 115744) or juveniles (Refs. 115713, 115714, 115744).

Life cycle and mating behavior Γεννητική Ωρίμανση | Αναπαραγωγή | Γεννοβολία | Eggs | Γονιμότητα | Larvae

Members of the order Decapoda are mostly gonochoric. Mating behavior: Precopulatory courtship ritual is common (through olfactory and tactile cues); usually indirect sperm transfer.